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Paul Thandi CBE DL

CEO

NEC Group

Birmingham, UK

Paul Thandi
Sally Tennant OBE
Acorn Capital Advisers
Hugh Tidbury
Greenhill & Co International LLP

Paul Thandi’s Biography

Paul Thandi is the charismatic and ambitious CEO of the NEC Group, one of the world’s leading venue management companies. He is also an investor, mentor, advisor and experienced Board Director.

Paul successfully steered the NEC on its journey from public sector ownership to a £307 million management buyout in 2015. Just three years later, having significantly increased the NEC’s profit and turnover, Paul oversaw the acquisition of the Group by Blackstone, the world’s largest private equity company, for £800 million.

Under Paul’s leadership the NEC Group has been transformed into a customer-focused, data-led business and the Group’s brands and reputation have been re-defined. Part of Paul’s strategy was launching and developing a range of support services such as The Ticket Factory (now a competitor to Ticketmaster); hospitality brand, Amplify; and award-winning caterer, Amadeus.

In addition to his role at the NEC, Paul is a sought-after Non-Executive Director and sits on the boards of Metro Bank, the West Midlands Growth Company, is Chairman of MP_ and an advisory board member...
Paul Thandi is the charismatic and ambitious CEO of the NEC Group, one of the world’s leading venue management companies. He is also an investor, mentor, advisor and experienced Board Director.

Paul successfully steered the NEC on its journey from public sector ownership to a £307 million management buyout in 2015. Just three years later, having significantly increased the NEC’s profit and turnover, Paul oversaw the acquisition of the Group by Blackstone, the world’s largest private equity company, for £800 million.

Under Paul’s leadership the NEC Group has been transformed into a customer-focused, data-led business and the Group’s brands and reputation have been re-defined. Part of Paul’s strategy was launching and developing a range of support services such as The Ticket Factory (now a competitor to Ticketmaster); hospitality brand, Amplify; and award-winning caterer, Amadeus.

In addition to his role at the NEC, Paul is a sought-after Non-Executive Director and sits on the boards of Metro Bank, the West Midlands Growth Company, is Chairman of MP_ and an advisory board member at Inspired Minds. He also runs a small family office focusing on investments in the property, biotech, entertainment, media, tech and medical sectors.

Paul is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to thrive, championing a range of development programmes and apprenticeships at the NEC. He also finds time to act as a mentor to two CEOs in the digital & media industry.

A committed philanthropist, Paul is a patron of Marie Curie, the UK’s foremost end-of-life charity, and sits on the Advisory Board of Bowel Cancer UK. He is a Patron of Best Beginnings, a charity that helps parents give children the best possible start in life.

In 2013 Paul was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands Lieutenancy, representing HM The Queen in the region. He was awarded a CBE for services to the economy in The Queen’s New Year Honours List 2020.
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Paul Thandi’s Newsfeed

NEC Group announces support for Alzheimer’s Research UK

Paul Thandi, NEC Group CEO, said: “We are very proud of our fundraising efforts and our staff do an amazing job in getting behind these great causes.”

The heroes of the pandemic

Paul Thandi, CEO of NEC Group, is mentioned in this article about Covid-19 heroes.

View News Archive

Paul Thandi’s Background

NEC Group
CEO
2006 - Present
Birmingham, UK
The NEC Group is the UK’s foremost live events business and owns the NEC, Vox, ICC, Utilita Arena Birmingham, Resorts World Arena, Amadeus and The Ticket Factory.
CMP Information
Executive Director
1996 - 2006
London, UK
CMP Information (CMPi) was an operating company of UBM, now known as Informa. CMP Information was a multimedia trading division that focused on exhibitions, conferences, digital, information products and online communities.

Paul Thandi’s Gallery

Other Business Interests

True North Associates Ltd logo True North Associates Ltd logo
True North Associates Ltd
Director and shareholder
2013 - Present
London, UK
True North Associates offers business consultancy services and mentorship. The company is owned and run by Paul and his wife Nicki.

Current Board Positions

Metro Bank
Independent Non-Executive Director
Jan 2019 - Present
London, UK
Paul Thandi sits on the Audit and Remuneration Committees of Metro Bank. Metro Bank was established in 2010, the first new high street bank to have been founded in over a hundred years.
NEC Group
Director
Jun 2015 - Present
Birmingham, UK
The NEC Group employs 1,500 people, holds 750 events per year and welcomes over 7,000,000 visitors. The Group’s aim is to be the most successful live events organisation in Europe.
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Current Advisory Roles

Inspired Minds
Advisory Board Member
Feb 2021 - Present
InspiredMinds is a global science and technology strategy company that focuses on promoting artificial intelligence (AI) for the greater good, ensuring emerging technologies work for everyone, not just the privileged few. Paul Thandi acts as an advisor on commercial growth and investor relations.

Philanthropy

Best Beginnings
Patron
London, UK
Founded in 2006, Best Beginnings is a charity dedicated to helping all parents and care-givers give children the best possible start in life.
Marie Curie
Patron
Jun 2015 - Present
London, UK
Marie Curie is a non-profit organisation that supports those living with, or affected by, terminal illnesses by offering professional care, guidance and support.
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Media

CEO Stories: Paul Thandi CBE DL
Podcast
Oct 2022
Birmingham, UK
In this wide-ranging interview NEC Group CEO, Paul Thandi, talks to Henrietta Brealey about his career in the entertainment and leisure industry.
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
Interviewee
May 2020
London, UK
Paul is interviewed by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce CEO, Paul Faulkner, about the NEC's plans to re-open after lockdown.

Awards & Recognition

New Year Honours
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Jan 2020
London, UK
Paul was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to the economy.

Public Service

West Midlands Lieutenancy
Deputy Lieutenant
2015 - Present
The West Midlands Lieutenancy is the second largest lieutenancy in England and Wales, supporting a population of nearly 3 million people across Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

Fellowships

Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA)
Fellow
Jun 2015 - Present
London, UK
RSA Fellows are an indispensable part of the RSA’s mission to create a better future. They encourage new ideas, push for social change, offer practical solutions and support the aims of the RSA.