THE Institute of Directors needs to to lose its “superiority complex” and open up to new members, the head of the Oxfordshire branch has said.

His appeal comes as the Institute of Directors Oxfordshire launches a new networking event, to be held quarterly, which is open to both members and non-members.

Timon Colegrove, chairman of Institute of Directors Oxfordshire, said: “The IoD has a little bit of a superiority complex that is completely incompatible with today’s business world.

“Today’s business is about inter-dependency. There is no point in any organisation having a facade or veneer.

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“Part of my role as chairman is to challenge some of the old ways.”

Mr Colegrove, who is also chief executive officer of Kidlington-based Hunts Paper and Pixel, said the inaugural IoD Oxfordshire Connect events were aimed at attracting non-members and young business people, as well as existing members.

The first event is to be held on February 5, from 6pm to 8pm, at The Jam Factory, Oxford.

He said: “There is nothing to replace meeting and chatting and letting the journey of the conversation take its own way.’’ Mr Colegrove added “being in business can be a very lonely place,” and, in his own experience, “the greatest learning” had resulted from “meeting other people”.

The key to the Connect event was to be able to mix with senior business leaders in an informal setting.

He said: “It’s an opportunity for people to meet without having to listen to a speaker or turn up at a particular time.

“Rather than forced networking, it’s natural networking.”

Mr Colegrove said the business expertise within IoD was available to anyone.

IoD Oxfordshire has about 1,000 members, and is part of the national Institute of Directors, which has around 34,000 members and is based in Pall Mall, London.

Subsequent Connect events in 2015 will be held on May 7, at The Crown, Woodstock, on August 6 ,at The Jam Factory, Oxford, and on November 5 at The Plum Pudding, Milton near Didcot.

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