Mark Askew, Chief Executive of The Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) who has been at the helm of the trade association for fuel and heating oil distributors since April 2011 has this week resigned to move to pastures new.

Mark Askew comments: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my 6 years working at the FPS and hope that, in some small way, I have managed to move the FPS forward to better face the industry challenges. In particular, I am proud of the introduction of the FPS Code of Practice and Customer Charter, developing closer links with Government bodies and consumer groups and promoting the great work of our members to the public through the Oilsave website.

My thanks, in particular, are extended to all of the members of the FPS Council with whom I have had the privilege to work with over this time and I commend them all for their selfless work in support of their association.

The decision to leave was not taken lightly but I feel that the time is right for me to move on and for the FPS be taken forward by another.”

FPS President Duncan Grant adds: “The FPS Council and I would like to thank Mark for all his efforts and wish Mark all the very best for the future. I will be working with the council and the team at the FPS including Marketing Manager Dawn Shakespeare and Training and Technical Manager Tony Brown to smooth the transition period to the appointment of a new Chief Executive.

The FPS has a busy period in the next few months as organisers of FPS EXPO, the key event for the oil and fuel distribution industry taking place at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool on 10 & 11 May 2017 and the FPS team are hard at work ensuring that the 37^th EXPO will be better than ever.   The team are also hard at work developing new member benefits including the Alternative Dispute Resolution service offered through The Retail Ombudsman (TRO), an independent ‘not for profit’ impartial organisation that specialises in resolving disputes between consumers and retailers; additional online training modules, the launch of the Tank Safe Campaign, in conjunction with fellow trade association OFTEC, which aims to educate consumers about the importance of checking their oil tank regularly for leaks and ensuring their home insurance covers their heating oil tank and the FPS will be launching the culmination of 12 months work the association and its members have been undertaking with Cheshire Fire and Rescue on ‘The Cold Weather Priority Initiative’ to identify ways of mapping and helping vulnerable off-gas consumers.

The team will also be launching three new websites this summer to replace www.fpsonline.co.uk. , www.fpsshow.co.uk and www.oilsave.org.uk . So for the moment it is business as usual.”