Tributes paid to Armstrong, who led the RICS for 12 years
Tributes have been paid to Louis Armstrong, the former chief executive of the RICS, who died on New Year鈥檚 Eve.
Armstrong, who also led a long and distinguished career as a naval officer, died after battling with a brain tumour for over a year.
Armstrong led the RICS for 12 years from 1998 to 2010, overseeing a period of global expansion for the organisation, as its membership rose from 90,000 to 150,000.
Current RICS chief executive Sean Tompkins paid tribute to Armstrong, saying his leadership of the RICS was 鈥渕arked with unprecedented progress鈥� and that he 鈥渕ade significant steps in the transition from a national organisation to an international profession鈥�, as well as overseeing the expansion of the organisation鈥檚 services to members.
Tompkins added: 鈥淟ouis played a unique role in shaping RICS for the 21st Century. His is a legacy of which we can all be immensely proud.鈥�
Graham Watts, chief executive of Construction Industry Council, said: 鈥淚 was very, very sad to read of Louis鈥� death on New Year鈥檚 Eve.
鈥淚 was very privileged to work with him over a number of years and he was a man who treated both happy and difficult circumstances with the same honest and pragmatic approach.
鈥淥ne of a fading breed of Englishmen with a gentle sense of humour and impeccable manners.鈥�
Richard Steer, chairman of consultant Gleeds Worldwide, said: 鈥淗e was a fine man who led our profession admirably during his time as chief executive.
鈥淗e oversaw the expansion of the RICS internationally and it being established all around the world, which is vital for the growth of our profession.鈥�
After leaving RICS, Louis founded Professions for Good, a consortium of chief executives of professional bodies across all business sectors, promoting the value and virtues of professionalism for business, the economy and society.
In his early career as an officer in the Navy, Armstrong travelled the world, and later rose to the rank of rear-admiral.
Louis is survived by his wife Mimi, his first wife Marjorie 鈥楧arjie鈥� Corbett, and a son and a daughter from his first marriage.
The RICS said it plans to mark Louis鈥� life formally 鈥渁t an appropriate point in the year鈥� and will publish further details in due course.
Full tribute to Louis Armstrong
By Sean Tompkins
It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of our former CEO, Louis Armstrong, on New Year鈥檚 Eve. Louis had been battling with a brain tumour for over a year, and throughout his illness, he continued to show the great courage, humour and warmth that characterised his entire life.
Louis鈥� service as CEO of RICS from 1998 to 2010 was marked with unprecedented progress. Under his inspirational leadership RICS made significant steps in the transition from a national organisation to an international profession, in which membership outside the UK expanded beyond the British expatriate community to embrace many new members from around the world.
It was also a period during which services to members increased, we defined the 17 Professional Groups we know today, we began to make real progress in gaining government and market recognition for RICS standards, and we reformed our approach to regulation. In short, Louis played a unique role in shaping RICS for the 21st Century. His is a legacy of which we can all be immensely proud.
After leaving RICS, Louis continued to live our values when he founded Professions for Good, a consortium of the CEOs of leading professional bodies across all business sectors promoting the value and virtues of professionalism for business, the economy and society.
Louis is survived by his wife Mimi, his first wife Marjorie 鈥楧arjie鈥� Corbett, and a son and a daughter from his first marriage. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time, and we plan to mark Louis鈥� life formally at an appropriate point in the year. We will publish further details in good time.
Read which details his colourful naval career as well as his achievements with RICS.
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