Paul Lester CBE 
Chairman

Paul Lester CBE

LONDON

Paul Lester is Chairman of the FTSE 250 manufacturing company Essentra Plc.

Paul is also Chairman of the Private Equity backed companies McCarthy Stone (retirement developments), Readypower (rail engineering services), Marley (tiles and roofing systems), FirstPort (residential property management), and Appello (technology enabled care services).

Paul is also Chairman of Signia (a private investment office).

He has been a member of the UK Government Major Projects Review Group since 2005.

Previously 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 was Non-Executive Director of Invensys, the FTSE 100 company and has also been Chairman 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.