Keith Williams CBE
LONDON
Keith is a highly regarded business leader with extensive industrial relations, operational and customer service experience. Keith is a chartered accountant and worked in the UK and internationally before joining British Airways plc in 1998. He worked there for 18 years, including five years as CFO, three years as CEO and two years as Executive Chairman. During that time, he led the transformation of the Company, leaner building a better and more customer focused organization with a sustainable future.
Prior to British Airways, Keith worked for companies including Reckitt and Colman, Apple Computer Inc., and Boots. He was also an Executive Board member and Chair of the Audit
Committee at Transport for London until 2016. His previous non-executive roles include
appointments at Aviva plc and the John Lewis Partnership.
In 2018, Keith was appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport to undertake a review of the whole structure of the rail industry and how passenger services are delivered. This led to the publication in May 2021 of the Williams-Shipps Plan for Rail, which recommended generational reforms to the sector.
Appointed to the Royal Mail Board
Non-Executive Director on 1 January 2018.
Non-Executive Deputy Chair on 7 November 2018.
Non-Executive Chair on 22 May 2019
Interim Executive Chair on 15 May 2020.
Non -Executive Chair on 1 February 2021
External appointments
Chair of Halfords Group plc.
Chair of the Board of Great British Railways Transition Team