The Team

Paul Everitt is Chairman of Farnborough International and Chief Executive of ADS Group, FIL’s parent company and the national trade association for the UK’s aerospace, defence, space and security industries. He is well known across Westminster, Whitehall and Brussels for his work championing UK manufacturing.

Paul has a longstanding relationship with FIL, his earlier career was spent with SBAC – the forerunner to ADS – where he was Director of Civil Air Transport and Communications. Notable achievements during his time with SBAC include the launch of the world’s first sustainable aviation strategy; helping establish the pro-aviation campaign group FlyingMatters, and overseeing SBAC activities at the Farnborough International Airshow.

Paul is chairman of the CBI’s Trade Association Council and a board member of ASD, the European trade association for aerospace, defence, space and security. He was previously Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Amanda Stainer initially joined SBAC – the forerunner to ADS, parent company of FIL – in 2001 as Head of Exhibitions and Events, before being made an FIL Board Director in 2005.

In addition to her responsibilities on the Farnborough International Airshow, Amanda leads business development, and the company’s international sales strategy. She was fundamental in establishing FIL’s consultancy business with a focus on India, China and the Middle East; and is Project Director for the Bahrain International Airshow. In 2016, Amanda was awarded the Highest Order of the Kingdom of Bahrain in recognition for her work on the show.  

Amanda played an instrumental part in the growth of FIL’s Conference and Exhibition Centre having worked on the inception and development of the first permanent exhibition and events facility on the Farnborough site – Hall 5. 

Before joining FIL, Amanda worked for Barker Brown where she was show director for the BBC’s Clothes Show Live. Amanda’s early career included stints at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and The Events Organisation Company.

Amanda is a non-executive Board Director of the RAF Museums Enterprise Ltd; a member of the Aviation Club, RAF Club, and the events forum MEOA (Major Events Organisers Association Ltd). She is married, lives in Bournemouth and enjoys sailing.

Andrew Pearcey joined FIL in 2015 as Marketing & Communications Director, bringing with him more than 20 years of marketing and communications experience both in agencies and with blue chip organisations.

As Chief Marketing & Insight Officer, Andrew is responsible for determining and leading the marketing strategy across FIL and ADS.

Since his appointment, Andrew has undertaken a complete overhaul of the marketing and communications function for FIL; redeveloping the organisation’s brand for the digital age. In 2017, Andrew launched FINN: Farnborough International News Network. Finn is a video-led digital hub for the aviation community providing insight, analysis and opinion, as well as coverage of shows and events across the globe.    

Before joining FIL, Andrew was Managing Partner of leading advertising agency, Cheil. His career has seen him involved with some of the world’s most iconic brands including EE, Budweiser and Orange where he orchestrated a number of high-profile campaigns and sponsorship properties including: Orange Wednesdays; the BAFTAs; Glastonbury, EE’s Wembley partnership, and Budweiser’s FIFA World Cup campaign.

Andrew lives in Haslemere with his wife and three children, he enjoys all sport with a particular passion for football and rugby.

Beth Henson joined the SBAC and FIL in 2008, bringing with her over 15 years’ experience in Human Resources, drawn from a spectrum of industry posts including events, hospitality and manufacturing, alongside a strong background in social work.

With people playing such a pivotal role in the successful growth of FIL and its services, Beth acts as the kingpin for attracting the very best talent to FIL in order to deliver outstanding results as a team.

She was instrumental in the merger of the SBAC and DMA in 2010, taking the lead on all HR aspects. Beth also holds a keen interest in change management and HR Infrastructure and supports the highly successful ‘Good Schools Guide’ in an HR advisory capacity.

A keen sportsperson, Beth enjoys running and keeping fit and enjoys the company of friends and family. She has two sons and lives in Hampshire.

Michael Watton joined FIL in February 2016 with the specific responsibility of developing the £30m Phase 2 project, scheduled to open in early 2018.

With an events industry career spanning over 25 years, Michael has worked in commercial roles in some of the world’s most recognised venues, enabling FIL to benefit from his vast experience.

Prior to joining FIL, Michael helped develop venues as diverse as the International Convention Centre and NEC in Birmingham, where he became Sales Director in 2006, The Dubai World Trade Centre from 2009 to 2012 and most recently at Bluewater in Kent. During his career, Michael has worked with event organisers in all sectors of the industry, including exhibitions, conferences, corporate events, sport and live entertainment, and on events including The British International Motor Show, Clotheshow Live, MACH, Gulfood and Arab Health.

Neil Theuma leads the operations department for FIL which includes responsibility for the delivery of successful airshows, and the running of Farnborough International’s £30 million Conference and Exhibition Centre. 

He joined the company in 2017 following nine years with the Rugby Football Union at Twickenham where he played a major part in transforming the iconic sporting venue into a crowd-pleasing location for a wide variety of high profile events. Neil was heavily involved in winning the UK’s bid to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup and central to delivering ten of the tournament’s matches.

Other career highlights include two years at Heathrow Airport where he oversaw maintenance of more than £110 million worth of the HVAC equipment across the airport’s campus. 

Neil began his career with the Royal Navy where he gained world-class leadership and management training, and invaluable operational experience acquired in live operational environments. His 12-year tenure with the Navy saw a number of international deployments, with responsibility for operations, maintenance and repair of numerous complex engineering systems on aircraft carriers and other military assets.  

A lifelong football fan, Neil is an FA Level One Football Coach. He lives Liphook with his wife and two children.

Keith Greetham joined FIL to assist the Executive Team on its planned development of the venues in Farnborough that will help propel FIL even further as an international centre of excellence.

With an invaluable breadth of knowledge and expertise gained from over 35 years in the exhibition industry, Keith will prove invaluable as the business moves forward with its plans to create the new, permanent onsite exhibition facilities.

Keith’s three decades span across roles including Group Managing Director at Reed Exhibitions in the early 1990s and Chief Executive at exhibition and event supplier, Opex. He was a founding member of the team that developed the UK's premier international venue, Excel, from its initial funding through to full time Commercial Director.

Currently Chairman of Southwater Events Group, Keith is also involved in his own industry ventures including Professional Events and is on the board of several venues and event related businesses which includes The International Centre and D2i Systems.

John Turner joined FIL as Non Executive Director bringing with him unparalleled experience of governance and supervision in the aviation arena.

Director of the Military Aircraft Division for BAE Systems, John managed the corporate governance of the organisation with wide ranging responsibilities. His role covered the organisation's flying and airfield operations world-wide, alongside its UK flight test activities and associated airfield operations, under both UK CAA and MoD regulation.

John boasts extensive experience of flight testing as a lead test pilot on Tornado, Hawk, Eurofighter / Typhoon, BAe146 and Nimrod MRA4.  John has displayed Hawk and Eurofighter / Typhoon at a number of international air shows, including the first fully aerobatic Eurofighter display at the FIA in 1996 and for the Typhoon name launch at FIA in 1998. Subsequently, he has displayed a wide variety of vintage aircraft from the World War I Bristol Fighter F2B to the 1940’s Avro C-19 airliner at Shuttleworth Trust’s Old Warden airfield and elsewhere in UK.

John has worked on air show Flying Control Committees since 1990 and as Chairman of the Flying Control Committee of Farnborough International Airshow since 2010.

Robin Southwell, joined the board at FIL in 2009 and his knowledge and insight into the UK aerospace and defence market have made him a valued addition to the board.

ADS President and CEO of EADS UK, Robin’s long and illustrious career history includes groundbreaking roles. He held positions as CEO of AirTanker Ltd (a consortium of EADS, Cobham, Rolls-Royce, Thales and VT Group) where, under his leadership, he secured the largest PFI in history. He has also been Chief Executive Officer at WS Atkins and Group Managing Director of Customer Solutions and Support at BAE Systems.

As well as an NED at FIL, Robin is Chairman of Quest Aviation Services, Concord Ltd and Airbase Group Ltd. He is also a Trustee of the RAF Museum, a Governor of Parkside School and was appointed by the Prime Minister, David Cameron, as a UK Business Ambassador.

David Lemon joined the board at Farnborough International in January 2016 and advises on a variety of matters ranging from business strategy, accounting, audit and tax matters.

Currently a partner at Saffery Champness, one of the largest firms of chartered accountants in the UK, David heads up the Bristol Office. He has considerable expertise in advising international businesses on their corporate and taxation matters and as part of the firm’s Sport and Entertainment team is able to offer Farnborough International valuable event industry insight. David is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). He is married to Cara and has two children. In his spare time, he enjoys rugby, cricket and football.

Gareth joined FIL at the start of 2018 following more than six years with Southampton Football Club, first as Chief Financial Officer before being promoted to Chief Executive in 2014. 

Under Gareth’s leadership Southampton FC saw a significant rise in turnover and considerable commercial success driven by a number of factors including a focus on achieving growth across existing revenue streams, and the negotiation of major sponsorship deals. During Gareth’s time with the Club, Southampton secured promotion to the Premier League and qualified for European competition.      

Southampton FC was the only club listed in the 2017 Financial Times 1000 Fastest Growing European Businesses, and in 2015 was named ‘Fastest Growing Brand in World Football’ by Brand Finance. 

In 2015, Gareth was named ‘Director of the Year for Large Companies’ (London and South East) by the Institute of Directors.

Gareth is a chartered accountant with a first-class honours degree in Economics and Accounting; he began his career with a five-year tenure at KPMG. 

Originally from Yorkshire, Gareth moved south to attend Southampton University. He is married with three children.