Peter Oldham QC has stepped down from his role leading an independent inquiry into a governance scandal at the RICS, owing to “professional reasons”.
Oldham is “unable to continue” leading the investigation, according to a statement on RICS’ website. It did not specify the reasons.
Alison Levitt QC, of 2 Hare Court, is replacing Oldham. Levitt has conducted independent probes into high-profile matters, including a review on the decision not to prosecute Jimmy Savile for sex offences in 2009.
She also conducted an independent inquiry into e-tailer Boohoo’s Leicester supply chain last year, amid allegations of modern slavery.
Levitt will be assisted on the RICS investigation by barrister Christopher Foulkes, also of 2 Hare Court. They were appointed by the review’s solicitors Kingsley Napley.
The date for an outcome to the review has been pushed back to mid-June, having previously been expected to be published this month. Levitt will issue a call for evidence.
Oldham was appointed to lead the inquiry in February. It focuses on the dismissal of four RICS non-executive directors in 2019 after they questioned how a critical financial report by BDO was handled internally.
RICS’ governing council had “unanimously endorsed” Oldham’s appointment at the end of January.
Alongside this independent inquiry, the institution is undertaking a wider review of RICS’ purpose and relevance to the industry.
This is led internally by chief executive Sean Tompkins and president Kathleen Fontana – a decision that has been heavily criticised by the industry.
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