Born in 1948 in Coventry, Graham Cole trained in the motor industry and then moved to Westland Helicopters Limited in 1974 into a senior position in the International Business area.  In 1982, he was appointed South America Regional Director for Westland Helicopters Ltd, and moved to Brazil until 1989. During this time there, he set up and ran an indigenous company based in Rio de Janiero.

 

On return to the UK in 1989, Graham was appointed to the Westland Board, responsible for Government Business. This period included the successful leadership of Apache and EH101 campaigns.

 

In 1995, after the acquisition of Westland by GKN, Graham was appointed Director of External Affairs for the GKN Group, a position he held until 2004 when AgustaWestland was fully acquired by Finmeccanica.

 

In 2005, he became an advisor to the Chairman and CEO of AgustaWestland.

 

In September 2007, Graham was appointed Managing Director, Westland Helicopters and Managing Director Business for the AgustaWestland Group worldwide. These positions carried responsibility for a company with annual revenues in the UK in excess of £1bn and worldwide business circa £4bn.

 

In February 2011, Graham became Chairman of Westland Helicopters Limited, now called AgustaWestland Limited, and was also appointed to the Board of the parent Company Finmeccanica UK.  He is also Chairman of Vix Global Board.

 

Graham is President of The West of England Aerospace Forum. 

 

He became Regional Chairman of the CBI South West in September 2012.

 

Graham has had particular interest for a number of years in prison welfare, serving for 8 years as a Member of the Board of a prison, including 2 years as Deputy Chairman.  In 2005, he instigated a prison charity with which he is still involved.

 

He was appointed a CBE in 2004 for his contribution to aerospace, and in 2008, he was awarded the Commendatore dell’ Ordine della Stella della Solidarietá Italiana by the President of Italy for his work on Anglo-Italian business.

 

Graham is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and has served on a number of UK Ministerial Committees and is currently a member of the Ministerial Aerospace Committee.  He was also appointed a Pensions Commissioner reporting on the future of UK private pensions.

 

Graham is a Freeman of the City of London, a member of the Court of Coachmakers Livery and Chairman of the Charity Committee.  Opera and sport are other main interests; rugby and football in particular (lifelong Coventry City supporter).

 

Graham is married to Pat who is a teacher.  They have two grown up sons, David and Philip.