NAEA past president in shock exit

Stewart Lilly has quit the National Federation of Property Professionals board due to concerns about the body's future direction.

Speaking to The Negotiator, he says: "The idea was that NFoPP was set up to be non-seen and none-heard, but it hasn't turned out that way. There have been situations over the last few months that I don't believe have been in the interests of members and I got so frustrated that I felt it was time for me to go."

In his resignation letter to Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents, NFoPP’s agency arm, Lilly states: “Recent events have led me to believe that I’m no longer in tune with the strategy and direction that the board wishes to pursue. I remain concerned that some recommendations to the board from NAEA Council have either been rejected or overruled. I am also increasingly anxious about the state of the finances which are worryingly out of line with budgets.”

Nevertheless, the NAEA past president insists that he will remain a member of the NAEA, which he first joined in 1968.

In a response to Lilly's letter, fellow past president of the NAEA, Trevor Kent, says: "I was very sad to read that you had finally run out patience with the dreadful regime that has emasculated the NAEA that we have loved and worked for, often at great personal cost, for so many years...I admire your decision to resign Stewart - a typically bold and bravely public step - your presidency was, I know, a considerable strain as you fought to retain the integrity and importance of the NAEA against overwhelming opposition from the newly created 'Board' of NFoPP."
 
He adds: "It has clearly been difficult for presidents who followed you too, as they came up against similar problems. I hope your outing will encourage others to do the same. How dare a board of directors elected by their subscribing members insist on such a regime of confidentiality and actively conspire to keep so much information and policy from their own members."

Gary Smith, president of the NAEA, says: "Stewart Lilly's resignation from the NFoPP Board and NAEA Divisional Council is no doubt a sad loss to the NAEA, particularly given the many years of experience he has in office that only a very few will be able to equal.
 
"We respect Stewart's decision and understand that he feels at odds with the general consensus that obtains. We are justly proud of the democratic mechanisms that exist within the NAEA that allows diversity of opinion to be properly considered, debated and acted upon.”

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