Richard has an impressive track record in strategic communications and issues management, with particular emphasis on reputation recovery. He has been part of two highly successful corporate turn round teams, delivering highly disciplined and innovative communications programmes.
As a consultant, Richard advises Rio Tinto plc on issues management and assists with financial calendar. He managed the communications for HIT Entertainment plc during their takover by Apax Partners. He also advises private healthcare providers Capio, HCA and Priory Group on branding and issues management.
Richard was previously Group Communications Director for Royal & SunAlliance (R&SA), Jarvis plc and Kelda plc (Yorkshire Water). He has also been communications director for a large NHS Trust in Manchester.
At R&SA, Richard was part of the management team brought in to turn round and refinance the business. He managed all financial calendar and M&A communications from 2003 onwards, most notably including the £960m rights issue and the disposal of the closed life business. He was also responsible for handling the exposure to the 2004 Treasury Select Committee enquiry on long term savings.
At Yorkshire Water/Kelda, Richard was an integral part of the management team which took YW from being virtually bottom of the OFWAT rankings to a point at which it became the most respected player in the sector. He was personally responsible for communications programmes which broke new ground in the water sector, based on treating water as a consumer product rather than a utility supply. He achieved a number of awards for the rebranding of the company and went on to see Yorkshire Water win Utility Company of the Year, a position it still holds onto today.
During his brief time at Jarvis, Richard brought some structure and process to the company's exposure to the Potters Bar HSE and BTP enquiries.