Robin Southwell
Robin Southwell | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 10, 1960 United Kingdom |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, aerospace executive |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Known for | CEO of EADS UK, CEO of Airtanker Ltd |
| Spouse | Sally Deakin (m. 1988) |
| Children | 2 |
Robin Southwell, OBE, is a prominent British entrepreneur currently leading the UK division of the aerospace corporation EADS (now known as Airbus). Born on 10 April 1960 to parents Peter and Susan Southwell, he lives in Cobham, Surrey. His academic background includes education at Finchley Manor Hill Comprehensive School in Barnet, followed by studies in economics and history at the University of Hull.
Career
From 1981 until 2000, Southwell was employed by British Aerospace (which later became BAE Systems). He then took on the role of CEO at W S Atkins between 2001 and 2002. In January 2003, he joined EADS as the CEO of Airtanker Ltd, and by July 2005, he advanced to become CEO of EADS UK.
Other appointments
Southwell occupies multiple executive positions within the aerospace and defence industries, including:
- Chairman roles at Quest Aviation Services, Concord Ltd, and Airbase Group Ltd
- Serving as President of ADS
- Trustee position at the Royal Air Force Museum
- Non-executive directorship at Farnborough International Ltd
- Governor role at Parkside School
- Appointment as UK Business Ambassador by Prime Minister David Cameron
- Chairmanship of AERALIS Ltd
Personal life
Since 1988, Southwell has been married to Sally Deakin. The couple has two children: a son and a daughter.
Controversy
In May 2014, The Independent covered the downfall of Corporate Jet Services in 2007, which incurred debts nearing £100 million to HBOS. Southwell clarified through his legal team that his role was assigned by HBOS to support the struggling firm and that he functioned solely as a non-executive director following the bank’s directives.