Paul Thandi
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
CEO 2006-2023, Chairman 2023-2024
London, GB
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
THE MARQUE
In Their Own Right
Biography
Paul Thandi CBE DL is a private equity investor, board director and mentor. He is best known for his transformation of the NEC Group, one of the world’s leading venue management businesses, which he led as Chief Executive from 2006. Under his leadership, the Group moved from public sector ownership to a £307m management buyout in 2015 and, three years later, an £800m sale to Blackstone. During this period, he increased profit and turnover, reshaping the business into a customer-focused, data-led organisation. He became Chairman in 2023 and stepped down in 2024.
Before the NEC, Paul spent a decade as an Executive Director at CMP Information, UBM’s (now Informa) exhibitions, conferences and information division.
Paul now invests and sits on boards in financial services, hospitality and entertainment, energy, real estate and healthcare. He is an Independent Non-Executive Director of Metro Bank and Chair of BOXPARK, The Student Energy Group, Sostratus Energy and ME Asset Management. He is also co-founder, shareholder and board director of Rayo, a Non-Executive Director and investor in JAAQ, and investor in Ellipses Pharma. He retains an investment in the NEC Group through Nation’s Experience Capital and, through his family office and True North Associates, invests in businesses and advises founders and chief executives.
Paul previously served on the advisory board of InspiredMinds!, before its 2024 sale to Growth Catalyst Partners. He was also a director of the West Midlands Growth Company and chaired the Birmingham and Solihull Employment and Skills Board. He chairs the Remuneration and Nomination Committees of the British Allied Trades Federation.
Paul is a Patron of Marie Curie and Best Beginnings and sits on the Development Board of Bowel Cancer UK. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands in 2013 and received a CBE in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to the economy.
The Record
Background
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2006 — 2024
CEO 2006-2023, Chairman 2023-2024
NEC Group
The NEC Group is the UK’s foremost live events business. Paul served as CEO from 2006 before moving to the role of Chairman in 2023.
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1996 — 2006
Executive Director
CMP Information
CMP Information (CMPi) was an operating company of UBM, now known as Informa. CMP Information was a multimedia trading division that focused on exhibitions, conferences, digital, information products and online communities.
In The News
Newsfeed
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18 March 2026 · BE News
New investment platform targets assets impacted by building safety challenges
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18 March 2026 · Property Magazine Int'l
ME Asset Management launches UK platform for complex assets
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1 December 2025 · Nation • Cymru
Dic Penderyn’s story set for the big screen thanks to £4m investment
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7 October 2024 · The Business Desk
Major leisure operator to make Birmingham debut
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17 April 2024 · City AM
Metro Bank cancels bonuses for all executives after turbulent year and rescue
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27 February 2024
Solihull Council is seeking to appoint a new Chair of the Employment and Skills Board
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19 October 2023
BOXPARK Expands Its Footprint with a New Venue in Birmingham’s Digbeth District
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8 September 2023
£381m boost for EV charging as Chancellor opens hub at NEC
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25 January 2023
NEC Group announces support for Alzheimer’s Research UK
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25 October 2022
The heroes of the pandemic
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3 October 2022
CEO Stories: NEC boss on waking a ‘sleeping giant’
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22 June 2022 · The Business Desk
Birmingham stakes claim to host 2023 Eurovision Song Contest
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17 May 2022
NEC to open EV charging super hub
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17 February 2022
Events Industry Board relaunched with new members
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2 January 2022 · Financial Times
Trade show organisers remain bullish despite Omicron blow
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18 November 2021
NEC’s Paul Thandi finally receives CBE
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11 November 2021 · BBC
Birmingham NEC 'masterplan' proposes thousands of new homes
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5 August 2021
Events industry boost from government-backed Insurance scheme
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Areas Of Focus