The Birmingham Post Power 50 - Who's in and who's out
power 50 - 460 x 180 DP
NEC Group chief executive Paul Thandi has been named the most powerful and influential person in Greater Birmingham.
Mr Thandi tops this year’s Power 50 – a list of the region’s top movers and shakers as decided by the Birmingham Post and Birmingham Future.
Second spot went to Birmingham Airport chief executive Paul Kehoe, with flamboyant ex-minister and businessman Digby Jones in third place.
The judging panel, headed by Dermot Finch, chief executive of Centre for Cities, noted that Mr Thandi and Mr Kehoe between them have it within their grasp to lead Birmingham out of recession and on to the road to economic recovery.
The future growth of the NEC, which already supports 29,000 jobs and contributes £2 billion to the regional economy, will be vitally important as Birmingham and the West Midlands continues to diversify from traditional manufacturing industry.
Expansion of Birmingham International Airport, with a longer runway allowing non-stop flights to China, India and the west coast of America, should also play a significant role in boosting business and trade.
Mr Finch said: “This year’s Power 50 aims to capture the turning point in the city’s fortunes.
“It looks back, celebrating those familiar faces that have driven the city’s success so far.
And it looks forward, recognising the new and emerging talent that the city will need to navigate the ups and downs of the global economy.”
Mr Thandi moved up six places in the Power 50 to displace last year’s winner Liam Byrne, who dropped to 16th place.
