Today saw Mr Cocker, 66, announcing that after a six-month transition period in which he will oversee the appointment of a successor, he will be stepping down and reducing his public commitments.
WRAP is in very good shape. We have been outstandingly successful in addressing our remit to promote sustainable recycling.
Vic Cocker, WRAP
Mr Cocker, who was chairman when the government-funded recycling development organisation was founded seven years ago, said he had been considering retirement for some time. His decision had been delayed in order to guide WRAP through the change of chief executive from Jennie Price to Liz Goodwin earlier this year.
He said stepping down was “part of a move to bring fresh blood” to the management board of the Banbury-based organisation. Last month saw the Banbury-based organisation's management board gaining three new non-executive directors joining the board last month – Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Jenny Watson and Andy Hinton.
“Refreshing”
Announcing his retirement today, Mr Cocker said: “Every board needs refreshing from time to time. We have just appointed three highly talented new non-executives, and I believe that after seven years at the helm it's now time for me to stand down.
“Liz Goodwin has rapidly proved that she is going to be an outstanding chief executive of WRAP, so I will be leaving sure that WRAP's reputation for excellence will grow even further under her stewardship,” he added.
The changes within WRAP this year have also included new faces in its communications department – responsible for the £30m national “Recycle Now” campaign – including the replacement of communications director Gareth Lloyd by former OFTEL comms director Nick Gammage last month.
WRAP is also currently recruiting a new director of manufacturing and construction at the moment, while last month also saw a restructuring of the organisation's retail team under director Richard Swannell, with Philip Ward switching to director of local government services.
Support
Well-known within the recycling sector as WRAP's founding chairman, Mr Cocker stepped out of the shadow of his chief executive Jennie Price this year, as he steered WRAP through the transition to Dr Goodwin's appointment.
In particular, he has been vocal in his support for the work of the recycling sector during sustained attacks by the national press over the summer (see letsrecycle.com story).
“WRAP is in very good shape,” Mr Cocker said as he looked back on his time chairing the organisation. “We have been outstandingly successful in addressing our remit to promote sustainable recycling and resource efficiency. Since we began, the recycling industry's turnover has doubled, it is now capable of processing an extra 5.8 million tonnes per year and recycling rates have escalated dramatically. This is an achievement for the whole sector from which we have received an enormous amount of support.”
While chairing WRAP, he has also been chairing the international charity Water Aid for six years, before retiring at its AGM last week. He is also current chairman of AGA Food Service plc.
Mr Cocker was asked to set up WRAP by Michael Meacher, then Minister for the Environment, in 2000 following the recommendation of a government Waste Strategy that such a body should be established as a not for profit company.
Prior to his time at WRAP, Mr Cocker spent 26 years in the water industry, retiring as chief executive of Severn Trent plc in 2000.
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