Difference between revisions of "David Richards"
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− | {{Template:Revolving Door badge}}General Sir '''David Richards''' (Lord Richards of Herstmonceux) is the former head of the British armed forces. He was [[Chief of the Defence Staff]] and [[Chief of the General Staff (UK)| Chief of the General Staff | + | {{Template:Revolving Door badge}}General Sir '''David Richards''' (Lord Richards of Herstmonceux) is the former head of the British armed forces. He was [[Chief of the Defence Staff]] and [[Chief of the General Staff (UK)| Chief of the General Staff]]. |
Richards is now a crossbench peer in the [[House of Lords]], having joined on 24 February 2014.<ref name="parl"> [http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-richards-of-herstmonceux/4317 Lord Richards of Herstmonceux] ''Parliament.uk'', accessed 23 December 2014 </ref> | Richards is now a crossbench peer in the [[House of Lords]], having joined on 24 February 2014.<ref name="parl"> [http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-richards-of-herstmonceux/4317 Lord Richards of Herstmonceux] ''Parliament.uk'', accessed 23 December 2014 </ref> | ||
Since retiring in 2013, Richards has advised the repressive governments of [[Government of Bahrain|Bahrain]] and [[United Arab Emirates]] as well as the arms firm [[Dyncorp]], among others. | Since retiring in 2013, Richards has advised the repressive governments of [[Government of Bahrain|Bahrain]] and [[United Arab Emirates]] as well as the arms firm [[Dyncorp]], among others. | ||
− | Other controversial clients include oil companies such as [[Vitol]]. | + | Other controversial clients include oil companies such as [[Vitol]] and the King of Jordan. |
The former commander-in-chief is listed as a keynote speaker at the upcoming [[Bahrain International Defence Exhibition and Conference]] in October 2017. | The former commander-in-chief is listed as a keynote speaker at the upcoming [[Bahrain International Defence Exhibition and Conference]] in October 2017. | ||
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Richards has acted as a 'strategic consultant' for a range of controversial clients since retiring. | Richards has acted as a 'strategic consultant' for a range of controversial clients since retiring. | ||
− | According to the House of Lords Register of Interests, Richards is the founder, chairman and director of [[Palliser Associates]] Ltd, which provides strategic advice to governments and companies, and is | + | According to the House of Lords Register of Interests, Richards is the founder, chairman and director of [[Palliser Associates]] Ltd, which provides strategic advice to governments and companies, and is 100 per cent owned by Richards and his wife: |
:Personal clients are: [[Ondra Partners]] (whose business is financial advice); [[Vitol Group]] (whose business is energy provision); [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]]; the King and [[Government of Bahrain]]; the King and [[Government of Jordan]]; Government of UAE/Royal Ruby Group; [[Huntsworth]] plc (international PR and communications company); [[Apache Asia]] (traditional merchant bank with offices in Hong Kong and Singapore); [[Portfolio Consulting and Advisory Company]] LLC (an affiliate of [[Cerberus Capital Management]] LP; USA); income from employment listed in category 2 is also paid to [[Palliser Associates]] Ltd)<ref name="parl"/> | :Personal clients are: [[Ondra Partners]] (whose business is financial advice); [[Vitol Group]] (whose business is energy provision); [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]]; the King and [[Government of Bahrain]]; the King and [[Government of Jordan]]; Government of UAE/Royal Ruby Group; [[Huntsworth]] plc (international PR and communications company); [[Apache Asia]] (traditional merchant bank with offices in Hong Kong and Singapore); [[Portfolio Consulting and Advisory Company]] LLC (an affiliate of [[Cerberus Capital Management]] LP; USA); income from employment listed in category 2 is also paid to [[Palliser Associates]] Ltd)<ref name="parl"/> | ||
Other consultancy roles: | Other consultancy roles: | ||
− | *Chairman and director | + | *Chairman and director of [[Equilibrium Global]] Ltd , which provides geostrategic advice to governments and companies) (see category 4(a) - no personal clients)<ref name="parl"/> and [[Equilibrium Gulf]]. |
*Non-executive chairman, [[Arturius International]] Ltd (a company started by ex-servicemen and specialising in logistic and transport services)<ref name="parl"/> | *Non-executive chairman, [[Arturius International]] Ltd (a company started by ex-servicemen and specialising in logistic and transport services)<ref name="parl"/> | ||
*Adviser, [[International Institute for Strategy Studies]], 2013 - present<ref name="IISS"/> | *Adviser, [[International Institute for Strategy Studies]], 2013 - present<ref name="IISS"/> | ||
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==Affiliations== | ==Affiliations== | ||
As a member of the [[All-Party Parliamentary Group on Defence and Security Issues]] the Member attends regular meetings at which the value of the hospitality received over the course of a calendar year exceeds the registration threshold of £140. <ref name="parl"/> | As a member of the [[All-Party Parliamentary Group on Defence and Security Issues]] the Member attends regular meetings at which the value of the hospitality received over the course of a calendar year exceeds the registration threshold of £140. <ref name="parl"/> | ||
+ | |||
+ | He is also a visiting Professor of [[Exeter University]] and an Honorary Fellow of both [[King’s College London]] and Cardiff University. He is senior adviser to the International Institute of Strategic Studies. | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== |
Revision as of 03:29, 13 September 2017
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This article is part of the Revolving Door project of Spinwatch. |
General Sir David Richards (Lord Richards of Herstmonceux) is the former head of the British armed forces. He was Chief of the Defence Staff and Chief of the General Staff.
Richards is now a crossbench peer in the House of Lords, having joined on 24 February 2014.[1]
Since retiring in 2013, Richards has advised the repressive governments of Bahrain and United Arab Emirates as well as the arms firm Dyncorp, among others. Other controversial clients include oil companies such as Vitol and the King of Jordan.
The former commander-in-chief is listed as a keynote speaker at the upcoming Bahrain International Defence Exhibition and Conference in October 2017.
Contents
Army career
After graduating from university, Richards was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1971. He has completed three tours of duty in Northern Ireland, led the British contingent in East Timor in 1999, twice commanded a UK joint task in Sierra Leone in 2000, served as commander of the Nato operation in Afghanistan between May 2006 and February 2007 and commander-in-chief of UK land forces from 2008-2009.[2][3]
He was appointed Chief of the General Staff in 2009 and Chief of the Defence Staff in 2010[2][4]until he retired in July 2013.
Revolving Door
Richards has acted as a 'strategic consultant' for a range of controversial clients since retiring.
According to the House of Lords Register of Interests, Richards is the founder, chairman and director of Palliser Associates Ltd, which provides strategic advice to governments and companies, and is 100 per cent owned by Richards and his wife:
- Personal clients are: Ondra Partners (whose business is financial advice); Vitol Group (whose business is energy provision); International Institute for Strategic Studies; the King and Government of Bahrain; the King and Government of Jordan; Government of UAE/Royal Ruby Group; Huntsworth plc (international PR and communications company); Apache Asia (traditional merchant bank with offices in Hong Kong and Singapore); Portfolio Consulting and Advisory Company LLC (an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management LP; USA); income from employment listed in category 2 is also paid to Palliser Associates Ltd)[1]
Other consultancy roles:
- Chairman and director of Equilibrium Global Ltd , which provides geostrategic advice to governments and companies) (see category 4(a) - no personal clients)[1] and Equilibrium Gulf.
- Non-executive chairman, Arturius International Ltd (a company started by ex-servicemen and specialising in logistic and transport services)[1]
- Adviser, International Institute for Strategy Studies, 2013 - present[3]
Strategic advice, not lobbying
When asked about his consultancies by the Wall Street Journal in 2014, Richards said he only advises foreign governments and does not lobby the British government. "I set up Palliser and EQ-G because of my frustration over the lack of strategic understanding, globally, and a belief that I could help governments and companies where appropriate do much better. This is not lobbying or anything remotely like it," he says.[5]
ACOBA approval of consultancy commissions
In 2015 Lord Richards requested advice from Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (APPG) about accepting various commissions under his independent consultancies Equilibrium Gulf Ltd and Equilibrium Global Ltd. These include organisations such as The Brenthurst Foundation, Huntsworth, Apache Asia and Dyncorp. ACOBA approved all as falling under the terms of his consultancy.[6]
Affiliations
As a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Defence and Security Issues the Member attends regular meetings at which the value of the hospitality received over the course of a calendar year exceeds the registration threshold of £140. [1]
He is also a visiting Professor of Exeter University and an Honorary Fellow of both King’s College London and Cardiff University. He is senior adviser to the International Institute of Strategic Studies.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Lord Richards of Herstmonceux Parliament.uk, accessed 23 December 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sir David Richards, new head of the British Army: profile Telegraph, 17 October 2008, accessed 23 December 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 IISS announces the appointment of General Sir David Richards as Senior Adviser International Institute for Strategy Studies, 23 October 2013, accessed 23 December 2014
- ↑ Currently serving as the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir David Richards will take up the post of Chief of the Defence Staff in October… Gov.UK, 14 July 2010, accessed 23 December 2014
- ↑ Politics and Business in the House of Lords Wall Street Journal, accessed 23 December 2014
- ↑ Gov.UK Business Appointments Applications: Lord Richards of Herstmonceux27 May 2015, accessed 23 September 2015