Paul John Lester is a British businessperson who has been the head of 23 different companies and presently is Non-Executive Chairman for Essentra Plc, Chairman at Knight Square Ltd., Chairman at Appello Ltd., Non-Executive Chairman of Readypower Rail Services Ltd., Non-Executive Chairman for Readypower Rail Services Group Ltd. and Chairman at Marley Ltd. Mr. Lester is also Member-Major Projects Review Group at HM Treasury and on the board of 8 other companies.

In the past Mr. Lester held the position of Non-Executive Chairman for McCarthy & Stone Plc, Chairman at Survitec Group Ltd., Independent Non-Executive Chairman of Forterra Plc, Chairman of Knight Square Holdings Ltd., Group Managing Director at Balfour Beatty Plc, President of EEF Ltd., Non-Executive Chairman for Greenergy International Ltd., Chairman for Marine Current Turbines Ltd., Director & Chairman at John Laing Capital Management Ltd., Chairman for Jura Infrastructure Ltd., Chairman at CBRE Managed Services Ltd., Chairman for Parabis Group Ltd., Non-Executive Chairman at FirstPort Ltd., Chief Executive Officer & Director at Babcock Southern Holdings Ltd., Chief Executive Officer for Graseby Plc, President at BSA Co. Ltd. and President of Society of Maritime Industries Ltd.

Paul John Lester received an undergraduate degree from Nottingham Trent University.