Paul Donovan

Paul Donovan served as a non-executive director at Arqiva from 2018 to 2020. He returned to the board in July 2022 as a Macquarie appointee, following two years as Arqiva’s Chief Executive Officer where he oversaw development of a new purpose, strategy, long-term plan and operating model.

He brings over 20 years’ experience in senior roles across the technology, media and communications sectors. Between 2014 and 2016 as CEO he led the transformation of Europe’s leading cinema operator, Odeon and UCI Cinemas Group, ahead of its sale to AMC Theatres. Before Odeon, Paul was CEO of Irish telecoms group eir, and has also held senior roles at significant global organisations, notably Vodafone, where as a member of the Executive Committee he led the company’s emerging markets businesses.

Philanthropy plays an important role in Paul’s life. He served as senior advisor to renowned philanthropist Sir Christopher Hohn from 2017-18, and as a Trustee of the Oxford Community Foundation from 2018-2021. He is a founder of two private charitable funds; Our Common Good UK, a social impact accelerator, and the Daymark Fund, which provides educational opportunities for talented but underprivileged children in the UK and Africa.