Brian Lechem

Brian Lechem 18 June 1933 – 2 August 2024

Brian was a proud graduate of the City of London School throughout the war years and Queen Mary College of London University. He became a Freeman of the City of London, and over his career advanced to become a Fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers (UK), a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada, Fellow of the Institute of Directors (UK), and Fellow of the of Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.

After a stint in engineering, he transitioned to a successful career at PA management consultants with increasingly responsible management positions for major capital projects across the UK. He emigrated to Canada with his family in 1976 as a director for a large construction company, and in 1988 founded Base Services Canada. He subsequently started Base Consulting to leverage his expertise in Association Management. The firm thrives 36 years later under the leadership of his daughter Ruth.

He served on several boards including multiple terms as President of his condominium corporation and had a tremendous interest in board governance. In 2002 his book Chairman of the Board (A Practical Guide) was published in North America by Wiley. Brian was deeply involved with the Institute of Corporate Directors: in 1980 he was instrumental in founding the ICD in Canada and was elected its first president and subsequently served as its executive director for a decade.

Brian was proud of his 30 years holding successive leadership and commissioner positions in the Scout Movement and was a holder of the coveted Wood Badge for training. His community volunteerism included being Chairman of Southgate District Reform Synagogue (London) during the 1970s and spanned pivotal events such as the Yom Kippur war. He was two-term chairman of the Canadian Alliance of British Pensioners and was involved in the Carson case for pension equity. He had strong convictions that British expats whose pensions were frozen as of time of first receipt was inequitable compared to pensioners in the UK and other countries where they are indexed.

Brian was predeceased by his wife Belle and his youngest son Paul. Survived by Ruth – who attended CLSG 1970 to 1976 (Lee Abrahamson), Alan, who – attended CLS 1973 to 1976 (Ruth Ekstein), 8 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

With thanks to Alan Lechem (Class of 1976) for this obituary.