Keith Attwood
Keith’s executive career has been focussed on the technology sector, working with some of the UK’s most familiar electronics companies including GEC, Plessey and Marconi.
In 1998, Keith became CEO of e2v technologies plc, a global electronics company, having previously worked at director level within the telecommunications, defence and aerospace sectors.
Keith led a management buy-out of e2v in 2002, acquiring the company from Marconi and subsequently listed the company on the London Stock Exchange in 2004. In 2013 he left the business with a record order book, five year Total Shareholder Return of over 6 X and zero debt. In 2017, e2v was acquired by US based Teledyne Corporation for c£620m.
Notable achievements at e2v included expanding the company’s global business (nearly 60% of revenues were sourced from the USA/Asia), steering the business through the 2008/09 economic crisis and building a world class professional imaging capability serving many sectors, including space science. e2v continues to supply class leading imaging technologies to organisations such as NASA and ESA, in support of their many space science missions.
As an advisor and active direct investor, Keith has been engaged on a range of consultancy projects with Private Equity; pre-acquisition due diligence, turnaround and buy and build. He has directly invested in a number of younger companies operating in the digital, fintech/banking, bio pharma and renewables sectors.
Keith has served a number of institutions in a non-executive capacity. For the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) as Chair of its East of England Regional Council from 2004 to 2008 and as Chair of its Employment and Skills Board from 2010 to 2015, during which time, the CBI successfully lobbied to rebalance the UK's provision of both academic and vocational learning. From 2014 to 2016 Keith acted as an Independent Advisor to the Essex Police and Crime Commissioners Strategic Policing Board.
Keith was appointed a Governor at ARU in 2014 and in August 2020, he was appointed Chair of the Board of Governors.
One of around 1,700 registered speakers, Keith has been an active member of the Speakers for Schools Programme since 2014 and has talked with students at many schools, primarily in the East Midlands area. Keith holds an MBA (1991) and an Honorary Doctorate (2012), and is a Companion Member of the Chartered Management Institute as well as a Chartered Manager.
Born in Durban, South Africa, Keith’s childhood was centred around Nottingham. He moved to Essex in 1998, where he and his family are currently based.
Keith is a Deputy Lieutenant of Essex.
Details of Trusteeships:
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