22
Asheadofabusinessthatcontributesmorethan�2billionayearto
theWestMidlands'economyandsupportsnearly29,000jobs,Paul
Thandiisarguablyoneofthemostimportantbusinessmeninthe
region.
PaulischiefexecutiveoftheNECGroup,whichoperatesthe
NationalExhibitionCentreandNECArena,inSolihull,andthe
InternationalConventionCentreandNationalIndoorArena,in
Birmingham.
Inanincreasinglyuncertaineconomicclimate,theNECGroup'srole
inkeepingtheWestMidlandsundertheglobalspotlightismore
importantthanever.Paul'scontributionwasrecognisedwhenhewas
namedjointWestMidlandwinneroftheProfessionalExcellence
categoryoftherecentLloydsTSBJewelAwardscelebratingAsian
businessandcivicachievement.
EvenbeforehejoinedtheNECGroup,PaulThandiwasno
newcomertotheburgeoningeventsandexhibitionindustry.
HewaspreviouslyanexecutivedirectoratCMPInformation(CMPi),
amultimediatradingdivisioninexhibitions,conferences,digital,
informationproductsandonlinecommunities.
PaulspentthelastthreeyearsofhistimethereleadingCMPi's
acquisitionandmergerstrategyandmanagingthefullstrategic,
financialandoperationalcontrolofthecompany'sexhibitionand
publishingportfolio.
Drivingthebusinessforwardthroughcommercialandstrategic
leadership,hewasalsoresponsibleforhigh-profileacquisitionswhich
includedthepurchaseofBarbourGroupfromCinven.Hewasalsopart
ofamanagementteamthatledtherecoveryofmediacompanyCMP,
withaprofitincreasefromtwopercentin2000tojustover20percent
in2003.
FollowinghistimeatCMPi,heembracedtheposition
ofcommercialdirectoratNECGroupwherehewas
responsiblefordeliveringthelargesthaulofnew
businessinanyoneyearinthecompany's
history.Sincebecomingchiefexecutivehehas
rebuiltthecompany'sbrandandreputation.
Introducinganewstyleofleadership,Paul
hasdevisedaphilosophythathebelievesis
criticaltoensureitssurvivalinahighly
competitiveglobalvenuemarket.Thishas
includedcreatinganewsenior
managementteam,theintroductionof
leadershiptrainingacrossthegroup,
developmentofacorporate
responsibilitystrategyandmakingsure
thegroupbecomesadata-led
organisation.
He'salsooverseenrefurbishmentof
theNECArena,nownamedtheLG
Arena,transformingarathertired
performancespaceintoamodern
venue.
Hehasgraspedtheessential
pointthattheNEC,ifitistosurvive
andbeatoffcompetitionfromthe
UKandabroad,mustpromote
itselffirstandforemostasavisitor
destinationandnotsimplyasa
conferencevenue.Plansfora
medium-sizecasinoandnew
hotelswillhelpinthisrespect.
Finally,MrThandihas
formedanimpressive
alliancewithBirmingham
InternationalAirportchief
executivePaulKehoe,
recognisingthattheNEC
Groupandairportworking
togetherisaforcetobe
reckonedwith.
PD
toyearabillion�2thanmorecontributesthatbusinessaofheadAs
Pauljobs,29,000nearlysupportsandeconomyMidlands'Westthe
Thandiisarguablyoneofthemostimportantbusinessmeninthe
theoperateswhichGroup,NECtheofexecutivechiefisPaul
theandSolihull,inArena,NECandCentreExhibitionNational
InternationalConventionCentreandNationalIndoorArena,in
roleGroup'sNECtheclimate,economicuncertainincreasinglyanIn
inkeepingtheWestMidlandsundertheglobalspotlightismore
washewhenrecognisedwascontributionPaul'sever.thanimportant
ExcellenceProfessionaltheofwinnerMidlandWestjointnamed
AsiancelebratingAwardsJewelTSBLloydsrecenttheofcategory
achievement.civicandbusiness
nowasThandiPaulGroup,NECthejoinedhebeforeEven
newcomertotheburgeoningeventsandexhibitionindustry.
HewaspreviouslyanexecutivedirectoratCMPInformation(CMPi),
digital,conferences,exhibitions,indivisiontradingmultimediaa
informationproductsandonlinecommunities.
CMPi'sleadingtheretimehisofyearsthreelastthespentPaul
strategic,fullthemanagingandstrategymergerandacquisition
andexhibitioncompany'stheofcontroloperationalandfinancial
Drivingthebusinessforwardthroughcommercialandstrategic
whichacquisitionshigh-profileforresponsiblealsowasheleadership,
includedthepurchaseofBarbourGroupfromCinven.Hewasalsopart
ofamanagementteamthatledtherecoveryofmediacompanyCMP,
withaprofitincreasefromtwopercentin2000tojustover20percent
FollowinghistimeatCMPi,heembracedtheposition
washewhereGroupNECatdirectorcommercialof
responsiblefordeliveringthelargesthaulofnew
businessinanyoneyearinthecompany's
hasheexecutivechiefbecomingSincehistory.
rebuiltthecompany'sbrandandreputation.
Introducinganewstyleofleadership,Paul
isbelieveshethatphilosophyadevisedhas
criticaltoensureitssurvivalinahighly
competitiveglobalvenuemarket.Thishas
seniornewacreatingincluded
managementteam,theintroductionof
group,theacrosstrainingleadership
suremakingandstrategyresponsibility
thegroupbecomesadata-led
ofrefurbishmentoverseenalsoHe's
LGthenamednowArena,NECthe
tiredratheratransformingArena,
performancespaceintoamodern
Hehasgraspedtheessential
pointthattheNEC,ifitistosurvive
andbeatoffcompetitionfromthe
promotemustabroad,andUK
visitoraasforemostandfirstitself
aassimplynotanddestination
newandcasinomedium-size
hotelswillhelpinthisrespect.
PD
1
Paul Thandi
NEC,
Business
5
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