David Richards

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General Sir David Richards (Lord Richards of Herstmonceux) is the former Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army. He is now a crossbench peer in the House of Lords, having joined on 24 February 2014.[1]

Gen. Sir David Richards at the NATO Summit in Chicago, Ill., May 20, 2012. Photo credit: Ash Carter

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]

Foreign government adviser - 'not lobbyist'

Richards set up his own company, Palliser Associates Ltd, who work with many foreign governments, including Bahrain and Jordan. When asked about this role by the Wall Street Journal, 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]

Register of interests

Commissions as a consultant

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Lord Richards of Herstmonceux Parliament.uk, accessed 23 December 2014
  2. 2.0 2.1 Sir David Richards, new head of the British Army: profile Telegraph, 17 October 2008, accessed 23 December 2014
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Politics and Business in the House of Lords Wall Street Journal, accessed 23 December 2014
  6. Gov.UK Business Appointments Applications: Lord Richards of Herstmonceux27 May 2015, accessed 23 September 2015