May 5

May 5 Entrepreneur Kumar appointed trustee of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021

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Successful entrepreneur and philanthropist Kumar Muthalagappan OBE has been appointed Trustee of the Coventry UK City of Culture 2021.

Kumar is one of seven new Trustees appointed to help shape both the delivery of the programme over the coming year and its legacy on the city and wider West Midlands region in the years that follow.

The appointees work with existing Trustees and senior management on the programme which runs for 12 months from May.

First arriving in Coventry in 1980 to study at the University of Warwick, Kumar trained as a Chartered Accountant, working for KPMG for 17 years. He went on to run successful businesses in hospitality, property and clinical research.

Over the years he has devoted much of his free time to Coventry and the wider Midlands region, with appointments to the Belgrade Theatre, the council of the University of Warwick, the Heart of England Tourist Board, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Advantage West Midlands, Visit Britain and the Olympic Games Delivery Authority.

In 2009 his efforts earned him the OBE for his services to hospitality.

Speaking of his appointment to Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 Kumar said: “Our city is renowned for its rich manufacturing heritage over the decades – not just in motor cars but in textiles and a whole host of other industries.

“But it also has so much more to offer.

“The UK City of Culture 2021 is a perfect opportunity for Coventry not only to celebrate its rich heritage – particularly among younger people now living here who may not already know about it – but also to reinvent itself.

“We are well connected not just locally but throughout the UK and this is a real opportunity to focus not just on the next 12 months but on the legacy in the years to come, with a focus on developing arts, culture and amenities which are all great ways to attracting people into the city.

“Over the coming 12 months I will be working with my colleagues to focus on raising Coventry’s profile, attracting investment and bringing people in to live and work here so the city reaps the benefits culturally, socially and economically.”