Following six years as Chair of the West London Business (WLB) board, Chris Maw will stand down in June 2022 to be succeeded as Chair by Shanker Patel, CEO, Lords Group Trading.
Chris, formerly West London Senior Partner at PwC, was appointed as Chair of the WLB Board in September 2016 at a time of great uncertainty in the West London Economy following the EU Referendum.
Andrew Dakers, CEO, West London Business, reflected:
“During Chris’ time as Chair he has supported me and the board in a period of substantial change: modernising our governance and initiating four member-led policy commissions in 2016 spanning: Education & Skills; The Built Environment; Sustainability & Climate Change and Transport & Infrastructure. The counsel he has provided has ensured that WLB today is confident in combining locally relevant thought-leadership with practical action on the greatest issues of our time.
With the onset of Covid-19, Chris agreed to extend his tenure to support the organisation as WLB supported the business community through the largest economic contraction the sub-region has faced since the Second World War. The board and I are immensely grateful for this.”
Chris Maw, Retiring Chair of WLB said:
“The board is delighted to announce the appointment of Shanker Patel to the position of Board Chair with effect from June 2022. An Exec Education graduate of Harvard Business School, Shanker has been well known in the West London business community since joining Lords Group Trading in 1993. Shanker’s combination of frontline insights from leading an AIM-listed company and experience of non-profit organisation makes him ideally placed to support and guide West London Business as it responds to the next phase of the region’s growth and transition to net zero.”
Shanker Patel, Chair designate of WLB said:
“I am tremendously excited to join the WLB board as Chair as the organisation works with partners to fulfil the ambitions of the West London Build and Recover Plan. Business is under enormous pressure at this time. I look forward to working with Andrew and the team to ensure that the West London employer voice is heard loud and clear. We must work harder than ever with partners to secure our future talent pipeline and the infrastructure needed to ensure that this phenomenally vibrant part of the capital, that contributes so much to UK Plc, continues to thrive.”
As Chief Executive Officer at Lords for over 10 years, Shanker continues to set the strategic direction of the Group and guided the business through transitioning from an owner managed structure to one that incorporates an independent professional management team. Shanker is also a designated member of the H&B buying group that represents Lords, as well as a board member of the Builders Merchants Federation, which is the only trade body representing merchants.
Lords was established over 35 years ago as a family business with its first retail unit in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. Since then, the Company has grown to a business operating from 33 sites with a combined turnover in excess of £288 million.
