Paul Lester is Chair of McCarthy & Stone (retirement developments), Funeral Partners Limited (funeral services) and Telent (communications). He is the former Chair of FTSE 250 manufacturing company, Essentra.
Paul has recently been involved in the sale of the private equity businesses FirstPort, Appello, Marley and Readypower, undertaking the role of Chair in each. The combined value of these transactions was £1.2 billion.
He also has been a member of the UK Government Major Projects Review Group since 2005. From 2002 to 2010 he was Chief Executive of VT Group plc, the support services company. Paul also held the position of Group Managing Director for Balfour Beatty plc. from 1997 to 2002, and was Chief Executive of Graseby plc from 1990 to 1997 following senior management positions at Schlumberger and the Dowty Group plc.
Paul has been a Non-executive Director at FTSE 100 firm Invensys and has also been Chair of a number of public and PE-backed businesses. He has also previously served as President of the Society of Maritime Industries, the BSA and Make UK (EEF).
He is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws. Paul became a Freeman of the City of London in 2006 and was awarded a CBE in 2007 for his services to Engineering.
Paul is a lifetime West Bromwich Albion Supporter.
