A landmark institution nestled within the Midlands countryside and perfectly situated to drive the region forwards. As CEO of Birmingham Airport, Paul Kehoe already leads one such institution. As an external member of Warwick Business School’s (WBS) Advisory Board, he’s well-placed to guide another regional powerhouse.

That powerhouse has already been greatly influential to Paul. After leaving one university to embark on an unfulfilling career in human resources, Paul responded to a line in an advert posted by the University of Warwick’s Business School: ‘one year to change your life.’

Paul recalled, “I saw the tiny advert for a WBS MBA, got accepted on the course and found that it did what it said on the tin. My life was changed within a year. The course led me to where I am today.”

The connection made between Paul and WBS endures to this day. Paul now provides his considerable insight to the WBS Advisory Board and the Warwick Commission, which is an independent inquiry seeking to define the University’s regional role. As head of Birmingham Airport, Paul’s organisation is responsible for millions of international passenger journeys to and from the region, making him an authority of regional commercial issues. It’s an insight that can only help our ambitious University, which is making rapid upwards progress through the global higher education rankings.

As Paul explained, “Warwick has something special. It must make the most of this, its reputation, and the obvious connections it has, to drive the agenda forwards. The region, the airport and the University are already working hard with local brands to connect effectively with nations in the [Far] East.

“Together, we need to continue making an impression on a global scale.”

Paul is a Commissioner on the Warwick Commission, which is investigating the University’s future role in Coventry, Warwickshire and the wider region. To find out more, click here.