Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Lord Richards of Herstmonceux

Updated 27 May 2015

Lord Richards left his role as Chief of Defence Staff in July 2013.

1. Arturius International

Lord Richards sought approval to take up employment with Arturius International, an independent specialist company offering logistics and engineering support in remote and austere locations. The appointment is part-time, one day per month and paid.

In their consideration of this application, the Committee noted that the appointment is not likely to include contact with his former department.

The Prime Minister accepted the Committee’s advice that this application be approved subject to the following conditions:

• For two years from his last day of service Lord Richards should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of his new employer; and

• He should not draw on privileged information available to him as a Crown servant.

The letter containing the final decision was sent in May 2014 and he took up the role in July 2014.

2. Independent consultant

Lord Richards sought advice on setting up as an independent consultant, to provide geo-strategic advice to foreign governments, companies and organisations.

The Prime Minister accepted the Committee’s recommendation that the Independent Consultancy Application be approved subject to the following conditions:

• for two years from his last day of service, Lord Richards should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of any of his clients;

• he should not draw on privileged information available to him from his time in Crown Service;

• for twelve months from his last day of service he should not undertake any work as a consultant which involves providing advice to any company or organisation on the terms of a bid or contract relating directly to the work of the MoD or UK Armed Forces; and

• for two years from his last day of service, before accepting any new commission he should make a case directly to the Committee to confirm that each individual commission the applicant wishes to undertake would be permissible under the approved terms of the consultancy. (If, after enquiry, the Committee takes the view that a commission is, or may be, outside the terms of the consultancy he will be expected to submit a fresh application).

The letter containing the final decision was sent in November 2013, and Lord Richards took up his first role as a consultant later that month.

3. Commissions under independent consultancy

Since setting up as an independent consultant, Lord Richards has asked for the Committee’s advice on accepting a number of commissions with:

• The Brenthurst Foundation

• Ondra Partners

• Inter Mediate

• Huntsworth

• Apache Asia

• Asia Pacific Advisory Credit Hybrids and Equity

• UAE

• Dyncorps

• CQS

On each occasion the Committee has agreed that the commissions fall under the terms of his independent consultancy and can be accepted, subject to the conditions imposed on the consultancy.