Chamber POTY: Paul Kehoe, by Kevin Johnson
Another non-politician must figure in our POTY considerations. The Chief Executive of Birmingham Airport and Chairman of Marketing Birmingham has had quite a year.
Work has (eventually) started on the runway extension at the airport. to planning the UK’s aviation capacity. Supported by the dogged John Morris, the airport boss is making some progress bringing the Elmdon airport into the debate with its capability to handle more air passengers whilst everyone works out what to do about Heathrow or Boris Island.
As the Davies review gets into full swing next year and delivers with an interim report due by the end of 2013, the debate about airport capacity, hubs and modal interchanges will really begin to soar. Can Kehoe make further advances into a policy discussion that is focussed on the South East? He has already called for the reform of landing fees, including exploring the idea of a system of congestion charging at overcapacity airports.
At a Tory Party Conference fringe event sponsored by Chamberlain News publishers RJF Public Affairs, the Airport boss was open about the difficulties presented by the shared ownership of the company and did not bat away suggestions about possible disposal by some councils.
Meanwhile, the destination marketing and inward investment agency has had a successful year, now firmly at the heart of the economic development agenda as well as promoting the city for business and leisure tourism. The influential Mercer Index recently ranked the city 44th in the world for infrastructure and 52nd for quality of life; the Conservatives were in town for their annual shindig and Usain Bolt was ‘bigging up’ Birmingham at every turn. With Kehoe as his chair and Bore as political master, agency CEO Neil Rami is probably having his best period in the role.
