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Keith Williams (businessman)

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Keith Williams
Born (1956-05-13) 13 May 1956 (age 68)
Teesside, England
Alma materUniversity of Liverpool
OccupationBusinessman
Employer(s)Halfords
Royal Mail
Known forRoyal Mail (2018–present)
Halfords (2018–present)
British Airways (2011–2016)
John Lewis (until 2019)
TitleChairman of Halfords and Royal Mail

Keith Williams CBE (born 13 May 1956)[1] is a British businessman who has been chairman of Halfords and Royal Mail since 2018. He was chief executive officer (CEO) of British Airways from 2011 to 2016.

Early life

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Williams was born in Teesside, England,[2] attended Guisborough Grammar School,[1] and received an undergraduate degree from the University of Liverpool.[3]

Career

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Williams spent his early career with Boots, Apple Inc., and Reckitt and Colman.[4]

In 1998, Williams left Reckitt and Colman, and joined British Airways, rising to CEO in 2011, and then chairman.[2][5][6] In April 2016, he was succeeded by Álex Cruz as chairman.[6]

Williams has been a non-executive director and deputy chairman of John Lewis, and a non-executive director of Aviva until May 2019.[4][7]

Williams has been the chairman of Halfords since July 2018.[4]

In May 2019, Williams, then deputy chairman, and a board member since January 2018, succeeded Les Owen as chairman of Royal Mail.[7]

In May 2020, Rico Back resigned as CEO of Royal Mail with immediate effect, and Williams, the chairman, replaced him as executive chairman.[5][8]

Williams is the independent chair of the Government-supported Rail Review.[4]

Honours

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In 2019, Williams was awarded an honorary doctorate by Teesside University.[2] He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2022 Birthday Honours for services to the railway industry.[9]

Personal life

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Williams is married and has a son and a daughter.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Shah, Oliver (9 July 2022). "Royal Mail chairman Keith Williams: If we don't deliver change, we face extinction". The Sunday Times.
  2. ^ a b c "Honorary Graduates | About us | Teesside University".
  3. ^ "Keith Williams - Biography". marketscreener.com. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d "Keith Williams - Halfords Group PLC".
  5. ^ a b Bow, Michael (15 May 2020). "Royal Mail chief executive Rico Back in shock exit from postal giant". Evening Standard. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  6. ^ a b Davies, Rob (6 November 2015). "British Airways: Alex Cruz to replace Keith Williams as chairman". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Keith Williams to succeed les Owen as Chairman of Royal Mail in May 2019".
  8. ^ Gill, Oliver (15 May 2020). "Royal Mail boss Rico Back ousted with £450,000 payoff". The Telegraph.
  9. ^ "No. 63714". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 2022. p. B11.
Business positions
Preceded by CEO of British Airways
2011–2016
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Dennis Millard
Chairman of Halfords
2018–present
Incumbent
Preceded by
Les Owen
Chairman of Royal Mail
2018–present