Mr Henry Murdoch, the assistant director general, industry, of the State training agency, FAS, has announced that he will retire from his position in July. In recent years, Mr Murdoch developed the standards-based apprenticeship system, and the mutual recognition of qualifications with Britain, France and Germany. He also developed the training quality standard, "Excellence through people". Prior to the establishment of FAS, Mr Murdoch developed the AnCO network of training centres.