The college is moving its headquarters from London and it is expected to move into the new base in 2005.

Mr Pountney, head of Neil Pountney Consulting, said: "The college's decision to relocate from London after being in the capital for 140 years and to move to Birmingham was a real coup for the city, highlighting the development of its own cultural renaissance."

The college recently selected Associated Architects to design its new headquarters, which will be based on the elegant grade one-listed Curzon Street Station building - originally constructed for the completion of the London-Birmingham railway in 1838. It will house probably the finest library of organ builders' records in the world, bringing together the resources of the College and British Institute of Organ studies. It is hoped that the development will include a new 250-seat recital hall.

Alan Dear, RCO chief executive said: "We are delighted to have Neil on board as the leading member of our team. He comes highly recommended with a successful track record and his expertise and experience within the building sector is already proving invaluable."

Mr Pountney, a former national president of the quantity surveyors division of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, established his own consultancy after having previously been managing director of Wakemans. He is also president of Solihull Chamber of Commerce, having recently been re-elected for a second term.
















Neil Pountney - appointed as building consultant for the Royal College of Organists' new headquarters in the emerging Eastside redevelopment area of Birmingham city centre.