He said: “ADS represents some of the UK’s most innovative, successful and economically important sectors and I feel privileged to take up my role at such a pivotal and exciting time; representing UK industry, to enhance its partnership with the UK government and presence internationally, during a period of growth and strategic national challenges.”
Paul Everitt, chief executive of ADS Group, added: “I am delighted to welcome Paul Kahn as president of ADS Group and I look forward to working with him as we deliver on a busy agenda across all our sectors.”
Kahn is responsible for the Airbus Group’s UK business. He is also responsible for the development of the Group’s strategic industrial partnerships within the UK, key customer relationships, and for enhancing Airbus Group’s relationship with the British Government.
In addition to his responsibilities at Airbus Group, he was appointed a UK Business Ambassador, by the Prime Minister, in November 2014.
Kahn joined Airbus Group in 2014 from Thales, where he held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Thales, Canada. Prior to this, he spent more than four years at Thales operations in Milan, Italy, as managing director – navigation and airport solutions business line.
A chartered engineer with a Masters in engineering and management systems from Brunel University, he began his career at the Ford Motor Company in both Europe and the US, before joining the public sector as a civil servant at the UK Ministry of Defence. There, he led one of the major reviews of procurement processes.
Kahn is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Institute of Engineering and Technology and the Association of Project Management. He holds an MBA from London Business School and attended the Royal College of Defence Studies. An active outdoors person, he lives in Surrey and is married with three children.
