Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Sir Iain Lobban

Updated 4 April 2016

Sir Iain Lobban left his role as Director of GCHQ in January 2015.

1. Independent Consultancy

Sir Iain sought permission to establish an independent consultancy, offering strategic advice on risk, primarily, but not exclusively, in the context of cyber security, and set out how this relates to organisational and personal leadership.

The Foreign Secretary accepted the Committee’s advice that, taking into account that a gap of three months has already occurred, this consultancy be approved subject to the conditions that:

• Sir Iain should not draw on privileged information available to him as a Crown servant;

• for two years from his last day in Crown service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of any of his clients or those he advises;

• for 12 months from his last day of service, Sir Iain should not undertake any work as a consultant which involves providing advice to any company or organisation on the terms of any bid or contract relating directly to the work of GCHQ; and

• once he has received approval to set up as an independent consultant, for two years from his last day of service he must seek confirmation from the Committee directly that each individual commission is permissible under the terms of his consultancy before taking it up. 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 advice was sent in June 2015.

Under his independent consultancy, Sir Iain has accepted commissions with:

• Holdingham Group (August 2015)
• Palo Alto Networks (September 2015)
• Royal Dutch Shell (September 2015)
• Glasswall (November 2015)
• Marsh Ltd (February 2016)
• Global Strategy Forum (February 2016)
• Worldpay (March 2016)
• SQR Systems (April 2016)
• Wynyard Group (April 2016)

2. Visiting Professor, King’s College

Sir Iain sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an unpaid appointment with King’s College London as a visiting professor.

The Committee took into account that Sir Iain had no contractual dealings with King’s while in post, had not been involved in the development or administration of any policy relating to them, and had not had access to commercially sensitive information about their competitors. The Committee also took into account Sir Iain’s statement that he would consult his former department in advance of any public work he wishes to undertake for King’s College.

The Foreign Secretary accepted the Committee’s recommendation that it sees no reason why Sir Iain should not take up this appointment, subject to the following conditions:

• Sir Iain should not draw on privileged information available to him from his time in Crown Service; and
• for two years from his last day of service, Sir Iain should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the organisations in which he holds appointments, their parent companies, subsidiaries or clients.

The letter containing the final decision was sent in August 2015 and the appointment was taken up in September 2015.

3. Honorary Fellow of the Judge Business School, Cambridge University

Sir Iain sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an unpaid appointment with Cambridge University as an Honorary Fellow of the Judge Business School.

The Committee took into account that Sir Iain had no contractual dealings with Cambridge University while in post and had not been involved in the development or administration of any policy relating to them, and had not had access to commercially sensitive information about their competitors. The Committee also took into account Sir Iain’s statement that he would consult his former department in advance of any public work he wishes to undertake for Cambridge University.

The Foreign Secretary has accepted the Committee’s recommendation that it sees no reason why Sir Iain should not take up this appointment, subject to the following conditions:

• Sir Iain should not draw on privileged information available to him from his time in Crown Service; and
• for two years from his last day of service, Sir Iain should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the organisations in which he holds appointments, their parent companies, subsidiaries or clients.

The letter containing the final decision was sent in August 2015 and the appointment was taken up in in September 2015.

4. Chairman of the Advisory Board, Cyber London Accelerator (CyLon)

Sir Iain sought permission to accept an unpaid role as Chairman of the Advisory Board for CyLon. The Committee took into account that Sir Iain had not had contractual dealings with his new employers while in post, had not been involved in the development or administration of any policy relating to them, and had not had access to commercially sensitive information about any competitors.

The Committee also noted that, as Sir Iain left Crown service in January, the three-month waiting period for former Permanent Secretaries has already expired.

The Foreign Secretary accepted the Committee’s advice the appointment be approved subject to the conditions that:

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

• for two years from his last day of service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the organisations in which he holds appointments, their parent companies or their clients.

The letter containing the final advice was sent in June 2015 and the appointment was announced in July 2015.

5. Member of the Board of Advisors, Cambridge Security Initiative

Sir Iain sought permission to accept an unpaid role as a member of the Board of Advisers to the Cambridge Security Initiative (CSi).

The Committee took into account that Sir Iain had not had contractual dealings with his new employers while in post, had not been involved in the development or administration of any policy relating to them, and had not had access to commercially sensitive information about any competitors.

The Committee also took into account Sir Iain’s statement that he would consult his former department in advance of any public work he undertakes for CSi, and will consult the FCO, through GCHQ, in respect of any such international work.

The Committee also noted that, as Sir Iain left Crown service in January, the three-month waiting period for former Permanent Secretaries has already expired.

The Foreign Secretary accepted the Committee’s advice the appointment be approved subject to the conditions that:

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

• for two years from his last day of service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the organisations in which he holds appointments, their parent companies or their clients.

The letter containing the final advice was sent in June 2015 and the appointment was announced in July 2015.

6. Senior Associate Fellow, RUSI

Sir Iain sought permission to accept an unpaid role as a Senior Associate Fellow with the RUSI.

The Committee took into account that Sir Iain had not had contractual dealings with his new employers while in post, had not been involved in the development or administration of any policy relating to them, and had not had access to commercially sensitive information about any competitors.

The Committee also took into account Sir Iain’s statement that he would consult his former department in advance of any public work he undertakes for RUSI, and will consult the FCO, through GCHQ, in respect of any such international work.

The Committee also noted that, as Sir Iain left Crown service in January, the three-month waiting period for former Permanent Secretaries has already expired.

The Foreign Secretary accepted the Committee’s advice the appointment be approved subject to the conditions that:

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

• for two years from his last day of service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the organisations in which he holds appointments, their parent companies or their clients.

The letter containing the final advice was sent in June 2015 and the appointment was announced in July 2015.

7. Member of the Advisory Council, C5

Iain Lobban sought advice on accepting a role as a Member of the Advisory Council for C5, a private equity firm, providing advice on strategy and innovative technologies.

The Committee took into account that Mr Lobban had no dealings with C5 while in post, did not have access to any commercially sensitive information about them, was not involved in the development or administration of any policy that could affect them, and was not involved in regulatory work or the award of grants that could affect them.

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

• A three month waiting period from his last day in Crown service;

• Mr Lobban should not draw on privileged information available to him as a Crown servant; and

• for two years from his last day in Crown service, Mr Lobban should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of his new employers, their parent companies or their clients.

The letter containing the final advice was sent in March 2015.

8. Advisor, Standard Chartered Bank

Iain Lobban sought advice on accepting a role as an an advisor on the financial crimes compliance board committee at Standard Chartered Bank, advising board and committee members on compliance, as part of a newly formed board committee.

The Committee took into account that Mr Lobban had no dealings with Standard Chartered bank while in post, did not have access to any commercially sensitive information about them, was not involved in the development or administration of any policy that could affect them, and was not involved in regulatory work or the award of grants that could affect them.

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

• A three month waiting period from his last day in Crown service;

• Mr Lobban should not draw on privileged information available to him as a Crown servant; and

• for two years from his last day in Crown service, Mr Lobban should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of his new employers, their parent companies or their clients.

The letter containing the final decision was sent in March 2015 and the appointment was announced in April 2015.

9. Independent Advisory Panel Member, Government of Australia

Iain Lobban sought advice on accepting a role as a member of an independent advisory panel to the Government of Australia, providing advice on their cyber policies.

The Committee noted that the only contact he had with the Government of Australia while in post was through government-to-government discussions in the field of national security, including cyber security. They also noted that it was in the UK’s national interest to make Mr Lobban’s expertise available at the earliest opportunity.

The Prime Minister accepted the Committee’s recommendation that the application be approved, waiving the waiting period for this appointment, and subject to the following conditions:

• Mr Lobban should not draw on privileged information available to him as a Crown servant; and

• for two years from his last day in Crown service, Mr Lobban should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of his new employers, their parent companies or their clients.

The letter containing the final decision was sent in March 2015 and he took up the role in April 2015.