Graham Cole CBE, FRAeS
Graham Cole CBE, FRAeS (LLD)
Friday 17 July 9:00am
Graham trained in the motor industry and moved to Westland Helicopters Limited in 1974 into a senior position in the International Business area. In 1982 he was appointed South America Regional Director and moved to Brazil. On his return to the UK in 1989, Graham was appointed to the Westland Board responsible for Government Business. He was awarded a CBE in 2004 for his contribution to Aerospace.
In 2007, Graham was appointed Managing Director for AgustaWestland Group, responsible for annual revenues worldwide of around £4 billion. In 2008 he was awarded the Commendatore dell’ Ordine della Stella della Solidarietà Italiana by the President of Italy for his work on Anglo Italian business.
In 2011 Graham became Chairman of Westland Helicopters Limited (now AgustaWestland Limited) and was appointed to the Board of parent company Finmeccanica UK. He is also Chairman of Vix Global Board and is a main Board Director of Utilico. He was also Regional Chairman of the CBI South West until September 2014 and a member of the CBI Chairman’s Committee.
Graham has served on a number of UK Ministerial Committees and is currently a member of the Ministerial Aerospace Committee. He was also appointed a Pensions Commissioner reporting on the future of UK private pensions and is currently chairing a national committee reviewing UK’s export performance.
Graham is a Freeman of the City of London and a Member of the Court of Coachmakers Livery.
