Helping Leaders Navigate Complexity and Achieve What Matters Most

Behind many successful leaders is a trusted adviser. Richard helps founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors and boards see the bigger picture, make better decisions and move from complexity to action.

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Richard's career has spanned government, banking, technology, entrepreneurship, publishing and international business. Along the way, he has worked with organizations ranging from startups and family businesses to banks, public institutions and multinational enterprises.

A founder trying to scale a growing business.

A CEO facing uncertainty, change or opportunity.

A board seeking clarity on an important decision.

An entrepreneur trying to turn an idea into reality.

An organization that needs to move from planning to execution.

Richard's role is not to take center stage. It is to help leaders see the bigger picture, make better decisions and achieve what matters most.

Credentials in brief

Selected highlights

Evidence without the fireworks.

Former Chief Economist of a major international bank
Worked within HM Treasury and Parliament
Led the implementation of an international banking technology platform that evolved into a successful commercial product
Contributor to a business plan that helped launch one of Africa's most successful mobile payment initiatives
Author of internationally published business books used by entrepreneurs, executives, universities and business schools around the world
Invited to lecture MBA students from the University of London and the University of Western Australia
Adviser to founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, boards and investors across multiple countries and industries

Bringing clarity to complexity

Clear thinking before action

Throughout his career, Richard has been drawn to situations where complexity obscures opportunity.

Whether the challenge involves strategy, growth, governance, technology, communication, investment, organizational change or execution, his focus remains remarkably consistent.

Bring clarity to the situation.
Identify what really matters.
Help make it happen.

One reader described Richard's work as “refreshingly jargon free.” That phrase captures a principle that has run through much of his career: complex subjects should not be made simplistic, but they should be made understandable.

Seeing the whole system

Many advisers specialize in one discipline. Richard's curiosity took him in a different direction.

Throughout his career, he sought experience across finance, operations, technology, marketing, governance, law, communications and human behavior, not because he wanted multiple careers, but because he wanted to understand how organizations really work.

The result is a perspective that combines strategy with execution, systems with people, and ideas with practical outcomes.

Understanding people

Successful organizations are built by people. Markets are driven by people. Boards are made up of people.

Customers, employees, investors and stakeholders all make decisions for reasons that are not always obvious from a spreadsheet.

Because in the end, most business challenges are human challenges.

Helping ideas gain support

Good ideas need more than merit

Good ideas rarely succeed on merit alone. They need support from investors, lenders, stakeholders, customers and employees.

Throughout his career, Richard has helped organizations develop business plans, investment propositions, strategies and communications that enable others to understand opportunities clearly and act with confidence.

Because people are far more likely to support an idea they understand.

Books, ideas and thought leadership

Writing as organized thinking

Richard is the author of several internationally successful business books, including titles published by the Financial Times, Bloomberg Press and The Economist.

His books have helped entrepreneurs, executives and business owners around the world better understand finance, strategy, planning and business performance.

For Richard, writing has never been about words alone. It has always been about helping people think more clearly.

Explore books and publications

A conversation rather than a pitch

Facing an important decision, opportunity or complex challenge?

Richard works with a limited number of organizations and individuals at any one time. Most engagements begin with a conversation rather than a proposal.

Contact Richard