Graham Cole CBE

Date of appointment: April 2017

Member of Audit Committee and Independent Lead for Dual Assurance Global Strategy.

Graham is Chairman of BGF portfolio company RVL Group.

Graham is married to alumna Patricia Cole (Education 1970). They have 2 grown up sons.

He trained in the motor industry and then moved to Westland Helicopters Limited in 1974 and eventually was appointed to the Westland Board responsible for Government Business in 1989. In 1995, after the acquisition of Westland by GKN, Graham was appointed Director of External Affairs for the GKN Group, a position he held until 2004 when AgustaWestland was fully acquired by Finmeccanica.

In September 2007, Graham was appointed Managing Director, Westland Helicopters and Managing Director International Business for the AgustaWestland Group worldwide. These positions carried responsibility for a company with annual revenues in the UK in excess of £1bn and worldwide business circa £4bn. In February 2011, Graham became Chairman of Westland Helicopters Limited, now called AgustaWestland Limited, and also appointed to the Board of the parent Company Finmeccanica UK. He has also served as Chairman of Vix Global Board and main Board Director of Utilico.

Graham was President of The West of England Aerospace Forum for 4 years until 2013. He was also Regional Chairman of the CBI South West in until September 2014 and a member of the CBI Chairman’s Committee.

Graham has pledged a major gift to support a Diamond Jubilee Scholarship in Dementia. He is also President of a South West Charity for under 5 children with autism.

He was appointed a CBE in 2004 for his contribution to Aerospace.

Organisation in which interest exists	Nature of Interest (directorship, shareholding, membership etc.)
RVL Aviation	Chair
ASR Ltd	Board Member