Paul Drechsler CBEChairman, International Chamber of Commerce (U.K.)

Former President of Confederation of British Industry he is Chairman of International Chamber of Commerce, Non-Executive Director of Schroders & Co and a member of the Trinity College Dublin Global advisory Council.

He has previously held senior appointments including; Chairman of Bibby Line Group, Chairman & Chief Executive of Wates Group, Executive Director of ICI Plc, Non-executive Director of Essentra Plc and Greencore Plc. Chairman CBI energy Policy Committee. More recently he was Chairman of BusinessLDN and Chancellor of Teesside University.

Prior to joining Wates, Paul spent 24 years with ICI PLC, holding senior / Board positions and living in the UK, Brazil, the USA and the Netherlands.

He was previously Chairman Teach First, Chairman of UK Skills Funding Agency Advisory Board, Director of Business in the Community, The Princes Trust (Construction Council), and TCD Business School Advisory Board.

Paul is an Engineering graduate from the University of Dublin, Trinity College, where he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Laws in 2018. He received The Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad in 2019.

Paul was Chairman of Sunday Times-Peel Hunt NED Awards, Chair of judges for LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders and is a judge  for the Black British Business Awards.