5. Paul Thandi, NEC

As head of a business that contributes more than £2 billion a year to the West Midlands' economy and supports nearly 29,000 jobs, Paul Thandi is arguably one of the most important businessmen in the region.

Paul is chief executive of the NEC Group, which operates the National Exhibition Centre and NEC Arena, in Solihull, and the International Convention Centre and National Indoor Arena, in Birmingham.

In an increasingly uncertain economic climate, the NEC Group's role in keeping the West Midlands under the global spotlight is more important than ever. Paul's contribution was recognised recently when he was named joint West Midland winner of the Professional Excellence category of the recent Lloyds TSB Jewel Awards celebrating Asian business and civic achievement.

Even before he joined the NEC Group, Paul Thandi was no newcomer to the burgeoning events and exhibition industry.

He was previously an executive director at CMP Information (CMPi), a multimedia trading division in exhibitions, conferences, digital, information products and online communities.

Paul spent the last three years of his time there leading CMPi's acquisition and merger strategy and managing the full strategic, financial and operational control of the company's exhibition and publishing portfolio.

Driving the business forward through commercial and strategic leadership, he was also responsible for high-profile acquisitions which included the purchase of Barbour Group from Cinven. He was also part of a management team that led the recovery of media company CMP, with a profit increase from two per cent in 2000 to just over 20 per cent in 2003.

Following his time at CMPi, he embraced the position of commercial director at NEC Group where he was responsible for delivering the largest haul of new business in any one year in the company's history. Since becoming chief executive he has rebuilt the company's brand and reputation.

Introducing a new style of leadership, Paul has devised a philosophy that he believes is critical to ensure its survival in a highly competitive global venue market. This has included creating a new senior management team, the introduction of leadership training across the group, development of a corporate responsibility strategy and making sure the group becomes a data-led organisation.