Kevin Crilly leaves LEEA after 11 years
Kevin Crilly, LEEA’s Head of Member Engagement Services – East, is leaving LEEA after 11 years with LEEA where he’s undertaken several important roles.
After 23 years in the army, Kevin worked first for a training company in Birmingham before, in 1996, going on to teach at the Royal Navy in Gosport. He developed courses for Lifting Equipment Examination that remain in place today. “That’s where I first got involved with LEEA,” he recalls. “The association’s technical officer at the time helped me to develop the courses and helped to ensure that they were of an exceptional quality and standard.”
When in 2007 LEEA’s technical officer retired, Kevin successfully applied for the job. At the time, the association had a membership of around 360 with approximately 200 of those members in the UK. “Although we had international members, there was a perception among them that LEEA was mostly UK-centric. Our international reputation needed to improve.”
In 2009, membership was first offered to companies outside the UK with the first international visit being to a company in Tunisia.
“From there we never looked back,” said Kevin. “LEEA is now 1100 members strong globally and, of course, no company can join the association without successfully completing a LEEA audit. The membership profile has completely switched with 65 per cent now based outside the UK.
There are now approximately 400 LEEA members in and around the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) – including 80 members in Egypt.
“LEEA now has a very high profile in the region and is recognised for the technical knowledge and training that our members can offer,” says Kevin. “We have an excellent relationship with many of the region’s governments and public utilities. Most recently, at the LiftEx Awards in 2018, the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformance Council was presented with the Kevin Holmes Award, whichrewards companies, teams and individuals who display excellence in people development.”
Part of what LEEA does now, and will do more of in the future, is working with end users to ensure that they recognise the benefits of working with LEEA members. Because our members have been audited, trained and receive on-going technical advice they have up-to-date expertise on which their customers can rely.
Dr Ross Moloney, LEEA CEO said: “Kevin has been a big presence in LEEA’s development over the past decade. He’s played an important role and I wish him all the best for the future.”
