LEADING UK AIRPORT CHIEF TAKES THE CHAIR
LEADING UK AIRPORT CHIEF TAKES THE CHAIR
Realtimeknowledge.com are pleased to welcome Paul Kehoe to the team. Paul brings a wealth of operational aviation expertise and experience from over 30 years in the industry. Paul will be actively involved in shaping our products and services to provide robust and effective aviation grade solutions.
Few in the airport industry have worked at the top level of so many regional and internationally important UK airports as Paul Kehoe. Paul has a real breadth and depth of aviation expertise and has consistently been an innovative game-changer within the industry. His wealth of experience includes time as the Chief Executive Officer of Birmingham, Bristol, Luton and Belfast International Airports.
Over the nine years (2011-2017) that Paul was CEO of Birmingham Airport he instigated many pivotal changes to modernise, change and invigorate real growth in passenger numbers at the airport. He steered a range of complex infrastructure developments, including a significant runway extension, which involved rerouting one of Birmingham’s busiest trunk roads, as well as the construction of a new Air Traffic Control Tower. He also oversaw a huge expansion in the number of routes and airlines served by the airport. At terminal level he guided the expansion of retail and catering outlets to better serve passengers during a period of unprecedented growth. In the last three years alone Birmingham airport has seen a 25% growth in passenger numbers from 9m to 12m and the trend continues upwards.
Birmingham Airport’s success under Paul’s tenure has also been recognised by a raft of awards including, World’s most Punctual Airport 2016, Star Airport of the Year Award for three years in a row from 2014 to 2016 and the Routes Europe Award for Marketing.
Paul also lead the Airport Operators Association and as Chairman represented the interests of UK airports and service companies at government and regulatory levels. A role which provided him with insights into the challenges facing the wider aviation industry. A metaphorical mountain-mover and business leader Paul’s positive force has also been brought to the fore in successfully promoting the West Midlands Region. His wide range of principal roles, include, chairman of Marketing Birmingham, President of the Birmingham Chambers of commerce and chairman of the West Midlands Growth Company.
In the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, this year, Paul was awarded a CBE in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the West Midlands region and economy. The innovation and successes achieved at Birmingham Airport under his tenure and his active role within the business community was applauded by local luminaries who were swift to praise Paul’s honours recognition,
Recognised as a changemaker and problem solver Paul shares a lot of the values of Realtimeknowledge.com. As innovators both Paul Kehoe and Realtimeknowledge.com are a natural fit. Both like to challenge the status quo, drive efficiency and champion process improvement. Paul will be a hands-on Chairman, bringing to bear his thirty years of experience in civil aviation operations, security and management. His insights will enable us to further refine our world leading airport operational reporting tools.