The Business Continuity Institute (BCI) has announced the appointment of Heather Merchan, MBCI, as the new Vice Chair of the BCI Board of Directors.

Since moving to the US in 2015, Merchan has been an active BCI volunteer. She also joined the BCI USA Chapter Board to better understand the industry in North America and to build her network of business continuity professionals in the region.

In 2017 she was elected to the role of President of the USA Chapter, and a year later elected to the global BCI Board.

Merchan has many years of experience in organizational resilience disciplines including business continuity, crisis management and corporate security. She has been working for Deloitte since 2008, and she is currently leading various competency streams for the Deloitte Global Security Office.

Merchan actively contributes to the evolution of international standards in organizational resilience, and is currently focused on contributing to forthcoming crisis management guidance. She holds an MBA from Imperial College London and enjoys strategic business planning to help teams and organizations thrive.

On her appointment Merchan commented: “It is a privilege to assume the role of Vice Chair of the BCI Board, and I am honored and thankful that I have the support of the board to do so. 2020 has been a difficult year for all of us, and I am no exception. Juggling work, voluntary activity and life as a parent in current circumstances has not been easy. But alongside the tough days and challenges that COVID-19 has presented, there have also been opportunities, and moments that I will treasure and look back on with great happiness and pride. Assuming this role is one of them.”

Read the full announcement here.