BA Exec Chairman receives honourary award
Williams (right) was recognised alongside industry leaders from the hospitality and tourism sector at the University’s annual graduation ceremony at Wembley Stadium which was attended by more than 1,700 graduates.
Keith Williams was appointed Executive Chairman of British Airways in January 2014 and is responsible for the commercial operations for the airline. He is also an Executive Director of the two airlines’ parent company, International Consolidated Airlines Group.
Williams received an Honorary Doctor of Science (Hon DSc). "I am delighted to receive this honour from a university at the heart of our community, offering the type of course designed to help the next generation gain experience of working in the aviation industry."
Celebrated for their contribution to their professions, the other honourees included Air Marshal Sir David Walker, formally Master of the Royal Household; Ian Sarson, Group Managing Director of Compass Group UK & Ireland; and Dr Suborno Bose, Founder and Chairman of Indismart Group.
Air Marshal Sir David Walker has been a Senior Adviser to HSBC Holdings since September 2013. Prior to this, he was Master of the Royal Household where he was responsible for the strategic direction of the Royal Household and for the planning and delivery of all events held in the four Occupied Palaces.
He said: "I have spent much of my career in the field of education and training and it therefore gives me very particular pleasure to have received the award of the Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of West London. The University, and the institution it has grown from, have always had a close association with the Royal Household and I am certain that this relationship will continue to prosper."
Ian Sarson was appointed as Director of Healthcare & Senior Living for Compass Group in Europe & Japan in 2013, prior to this he was Managing Director for Compass Group in the UK and Ireland.
Speaking about receiving his honorary Doctor of Letters (Hon DLitt) he said: “Hospitality is a fantastic sector to be part of; there are so many great career opportunities for young people and championing these is something I’m really passionate about. Having spent my career working in hospitality, I feel extremely honoured to be recognised by the University of West London and I look forward to many more enjoyable years working with some fantastic people within this exciting and diverse industry.”
Indismart Group, founded by Chairman Dr Suborno Bose, focuses on education and hospitality. The group’s International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) and the Institute of Advanced Management (IAM) have a collaborative partnership with UWL.
Dr Bose, who received an Honorary Doctor of Science (Hon DSc) commented: ‘My work and ambition is to provide contemporary and relevant skills and knowledge to the hospitality students of the world so they become future leaders in the hospitality industry.’
The graduation ceremony marks the end of the year for the University, which reported 95% of its students are in full-time employment within six months of graduating. Each of the University’s eight schools confer honorary degrees to recognise business success, contributions to civic and cultural life and long-term support for the University's work.
The University of West London's July 2014 Honorary Award recipients are:
• John Taylor CBE, employer relations and education expert – awarded Doctor of Letters (Hon DLitt)
• Professor Roger Brown, higher education specialist – awarded Doctor of Letters (Hon DLitt)
• Keith Williams, Executive Chairman of British Airways – awarded Doctor of Science (Hon DSc)
• Air Marshal Sir David Walker, formally Master of the Royal Household – awarded Doctor of Letters (Hon DLitt)
• Ian Sarson, Group Managing Director of Compass Group UK & Ireland – awarded Doctor of Letters (Hon DLitt)
• Dr Suborno Bose, Founder and Chairman of Indismart Group – awarded Doctor of Science (Hon DSc)
• Steven M. Levy, theatre producer – awarded Doctor of Letters (Hon DLitt)
