Veteran safety and health professional Alan McMillan was named president and chief executive officer of the National Safety Council (NSC).
McMillan, currently the council''s executive vice president, succeeds Jerry Scannell, NSC''s president for the past six years.
"I could not be more delighted, either personally or professionally, with the selection of Alan McMillan," said Patrick Tyson, chairman of NSC''s board of directors. "Alan is the right person at the right time to lead the National Safety Council into the 21st Century."
McMillan was selected by the board of director''s leadership following a nationwide search that began last fall.
He has more than 30 years of government and private sector safety, health and environmental experience, including service with OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
McMillan began his safety and health career in 1970. He served as Chicago regional administrator of OSHA from 1981 to 1983, and was administrator of OSHA''s Atlanta region from 1983 to 1986.
In 1987, he was named acting director of MSHA. Later that year he became deputy assistant secretary of labor for employment standards, a post he held until 1989.
McMillan has been directing the day-to-day operations of NSC since February 1995.
"For the last six years, Alan has played a central role in making the National Safety Council a stronger, more focused, more efficient and more effective organization," said Scannell, who was named president emeritus of the council and will continue to work with NSC in a fund-raising role. "My association with Alan over the years has been a wonderful experience for me, and I take great personal satisfaction in the board leadership''s decision to name him president. The council could not ask for a more able or dedicated leader."
NSC is the nation''s leading advocate of safety and health in the workplace, on the highways and in homes and communities.
"I am honored to be asked to continue the work of the National Safety Council," said McMillan. "I fully intend to build on the progress and success the council has achieved under Jerry Scannell''s visionary leadership."
McMillan added, "The council is charged with the important work of reducing the unacceptable numbers of preventable deaths and injuries in every walk of life."
In his role as executive vice president, McMillan worked side-by-side with Scannell to streamline the council''s governance structure and to forge stronger ties with the business and professional communities.
McMillan was also instrumental in focusing the council''s -- and the nation''s -- attention on the major causes of preventable deaths and injuries, an effort which resulted in the publication last April of the council''s "Safety Agenda for the Nation."
In announcing McMillan''s appointment, Tyson also expressed the board''s appreciation for Scannell''s stewardship of the council since 1995.
"Jerry Scannell has set an agenda that will guide the NSC''s efforts for years to come," said Tyson. "America in the 21st Century will be a much safer and healthier nation thanks to his leadership. It is especially gratifying for me to note that Jerry, as president emeritus, has agreed to continue playing a key role by helping raise funds to support the council''s work."
by Virginia Sutcliffe