Paul M. McMahon – Managing Director
Paul M. McMahon is a transformational leader with extensive experience in scaling businesses, driving strategy, and delivering growth across international markets. As Managing Director of Destination Coventry, he leads initiatives to strengthen Coventry and Warwickshire’s visitor economy, working with public and private sector partners to position the region as a leading leisure and business destination.
Previously CEO of easyMarketing, part of the Easy Group, Paul spent over 15 years building and expanding a network of 34 franchises. Known for combining commercial vision with operational excellence, he has a strong track record in business development, stakeholder engagement, and organisational growth.
Alongside his executive leadership, Paul is passionate about consultancy and coaching, helping organisations and individuals unlock sustainable growth through strategy, collaboration, and innovation.
Corin Crane
Corin is the Group Chief Executive of the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce (CWCC) which includes Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training and Destination Coventry. CWCC offers business support to companies of all sizes and all sectors including international trade, export documentation, start up, training and apprenticeships, networking and major events. He is the lead officer for the West Midlands and Warwickshire Local Skills Improvement Plan.
He is a trustee at Belgrade Theatre, a board member of Chamber Customs, C&W Chamber Training, Destination Coventry and Coventry Climate Change Board.
Corin was Director of the Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership where he had overall responsibility for around £200m of funds to drive regeneration and help local businesses grow. Also, he chaired the European Structural Funds Committee and lead on the Area Review for Leicestershire and in 2016 he became the Chief Executive of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce.
Paul Michael
Paul Michael is Managing Director of Coventry Building Society Arena and has more than 20 years’ experience in the leisure and hospitality sector.
Prior to becoming Managing Director in June 2023, Paul had held the position of Commercial Director at the venue since 2019 and overseen the commercial strategy for the leading multi-purpose venue.
Paul is also chairman of the oversight board for Destination Coventry and a board director the Association of Event Venues – advocating nationally for the tourism, leisure and events industry.
Becky Frall
Becky Frall is the Head of Tourism at West Midlands Growth Company, strategic lead for the West Midlands Destination Development Partnership (tourist board). She has 25 years’ experience in the visitor economy sector and is passionate about curating the visitor experience for business and leisure, and linking the many agents involved with this across the region. She is also proud to serve as vice-president of the Tourism Management Institute – the professional association for Visitor Economy Managers.
Becky shaped and led, with a high-performing team and VisitBritain, the delivery of a successful 3-year project to maximise the opportunities for the visitor economy from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and the enhanced profile and reputation deriving from this major global event. In recognition of this successful partnership and delivery, in 2023 the West Midlands won Destination Development Partnership pilot status, through DCMS and VisitEngland, awarded to flagship strategic tourism organisations which innovate and share knowledge across the country.
Becky’s focus is to ensure that shareholders and industry partners can support, and benefit from, sustainable visitor economy sector growth, resulting in thriving destinations for communities and visitors.
Chris Mc
Turk
I’ve worked in the night-time economy since I was 18, starting on the ground and eventually becoming the owner of a city-centre nightclub. Alongside this, I run a fire protection business serving a range of local venues and businesses. These roles give me a dual perspective—on both the operational challenges faced by hospitality businesses and the wider regulatory and safety landscape they operate in.
I’m passionate about improving our city—not just economically, but socially and culturally. I believe our tourism and night-time economy have huge potential to grow in a way that’s inclusive, sustainable, and well-managed. As a board member, I’d bring real-world insight, a deep commitment to civic progress, and a strong sense of accountability. I’m here to help bridge the gap between strategy and street-level reality.
Paul Bartlett
Director, Warwick Conferences – University of Warwick
Paul Bartlett is an experienced and commercially focused director with a career spanning over 35 years across the higher education, hospitality, hotel management, and digital media sectors. He currently serves as Director of Warwick Conferences, where he leads one of the UK’s largest university-based conference operations, encompassing multiple venues on the University of Warwick campus. His remit includes strategic planning, financial oversight, and operational leadership.
Paul has held a range of senior leadership roles within the University of Warwick, including Director of jobs.ac.uk, Head of Sales, and Commercial Manager for Major Projects. He has successfully delivered multiple capital investments and introduced innovative revenue strategies that have driven sustained growth and improved customer experience.
His achievements include negotiating the Warwick Campus’s role as a Commonwealth Games Village, delivering consistent operating profit margins, and leading initiatives that significantly improved staff engagement, health and safety outcomes, and customer satisfaction.
Paul holds a Postgraduate Award in Strategic Leadership from Warwick Business School.
Michael Lyons
Michael Lyons is a highly experienced Hotel Operator, with significant experience in award-winning hotels. Currently working with Castlebridge Hospitality as Cluster General Manager for the Hotel Indigo Coventry and Hotel Indigo Chester. He has 38 years’ experience working in Hospitality, his first role being Assistant Floor Housekeeper at the Belfry Hotel.
Michael has also worked as Director of Operations for Kew Green Hotels and Director of Europe Hotel Operations, UK & Ireland for IHG. Other past roles have included General Manager for Holiday Inn, Leicester, and Holiday Inn, Birmingham as well as Operations Manager for Crowne Plaza, London Heathrow.
Michael is married and counts running, reading, and travelling amongst his interests.
Paula Dees
Paula Deas is Coventry born and bred and has spent her career helping boost the local and regional economy and more latterly has played an advisory role for Destination Coventry. Most notably she played a major role in setting up Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership and was its Chief Executive. She achieved game-changing results including securing a City Deal for CWLEP to enable the area to set up its own highly regarded Growth Hub, providing bespoke business support services and attracting £131 million of Growth Deal and £20 million of Getting Building money for infrastructure, investment and skills capital projects in the area. She fronted stakeholder engagement to raise the national profile of CWLEP within government and the local business community.
She now continues to grow the legacy of the LEP in her current role working with the region and stakeholders to create conditions for high economic growth. She was awarded an MBE for services to the community of the West Midlands in 2024.
Jo Dobson
As Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Policy and Engagement) at Coventry University Group, Jo advises the Vice-Chancellor, Governors and senior leaders on HE policy developments in the UK and overseas as well as managing local civic engagement across the Group’s three UK locations. In addition, Jo holds leadership responsibility for strategic communications for the Group.
Jo has over 25 years’ experience of working in the Higher Education sector, with many years involved in knowledge exchange and external stakeholder engagement. A collaborative leader and coach, Jo seeks opportunities for the Group to collaborate and enjoys developing strategic initiatives in partnership with our key stakeholders.
James Howard
I am the General Manager of Hampton by Hilton Nuneaton and bring a wealth of experience, having recently managed Hilton Garden Inn Luton North for more than two years and a number of other Hilton properties during my 17+ years with the company, including Hilton Northampton, Hilton Bath, Hilton Warwick and Hilton Leicester.
I am very passionate about the Midlands region having grown up in Hinckley, Leicestershire. My experience also involved being a local school Governor for a number of years. I am married and have four children and seven grandchildren – we are fortunate that everyone in our family lives locally.
Becky Rooney
Becky Rooney is a TV and Film professional, working behind the camera in a variety of roles and genres for over 30 years. Her production company Rooscreen makes short form content for a range of platforms and has enjoyed international festival successes and Royal Television Society nominations.
Alongside, Becky’s consultancy service Film Friendly shares knowledge of TV and Film production processes with location owners, land owners, tourism agencies, member organisations and local authorities to increase filming activity and maximise opportunities around TV and film production and screen tourism.
She is passionate about utilising the incredible locations we have in the region to attract production, design attractions and experiences around filming activity to increase footfall and visitor engagement, build partnerships to create a truly film friendly region and ultimately, create growth in these areas.