Summary of business appointment applications - Lt Gen Philip Jones
Updated 4 July 2018
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Lt Gen Philip Jones left his position as Chief of Staff, NATO, MOD in December 2015.
1. Advisor, PA Consulting
Lt Gen Philip Jones sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment as an advisor to PA Consulting.
He explained that he would focus primarily on business in the USA, specifically on defence and security matters and advising on current military and security thinking. The work he will be engaged in is likely to include organisational advice, process efficiency, systems improvement, training and education.
When considering the application the Committee took into account that the role will not require him to lobby Ministers and he will not be seeking contracts or business directly from the UK MOD.
The Committee also took into account that the MOD business appointments panel expressed no concerns about Lt Gen Jones taking up a position with PA Consulting, subject to a 2-year lobbying ban.
The Secretary of State for Defence accepted the Committee’s advice that the appointment be subject to the following conditions:
- For 12 months from his last day of service he should not provide advice to PA Consulting or its clients on the terms of a bid or contract relating directly to the work of the Ministry of Defence;
- He should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service; and
- For two years from his last day in service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of PA Consulting, its subsidiaries or clients. Given the nature of his role with PA Consulting, the Committee would emphasise that this includes lobbying of former colleagues working in the UK Joint Forces Command and/ or working in the transatlantic relationship.
The letter containing the Committee’s advice was sent in June 2016.
2. Chairman of the Board of Trustees, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity
3. Chief Operating Officer, Equilibrium Gulf
4. Director, Othrys Limited
Lt Gen Jones later sought advice under the Business Appointment Rules about taking up appointments with: ABF The Soldiers’ Charity (previously the Army Benevolent Fund) and Equilibrium Gulf; and establishing a consultancy, Othrys Limited where he will be a Director.
When considering these applications, the Committee took into account that the MOD raised no concerns; that the MOD stated it has no contractual dealings with ABF The Soldiers’ Charity or Equilibrium Gulf; and that 18 months had passed since Lt Gen Jones’ last day in post.
The Secretary of State for Defence accepted the Committee’s advice that these appointments be subject to the following conditions:
- he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisation to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service;
- for two years from his last day in Crown service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the organisations to which this advice refers, or their subsidiaries, partners or clients. He should not make use, directly or indirectly, of his contacts in Government and/or Crown service to influence policy, or secure business or funding on their behalf;
- for two years from his last day in Crown service, he should not undertake any work as a consultant that involves providing advice to any company or organisation on the terms of, or with regard to the subject matter of, a bid or contract relating directly to the work of the MOD or is trading funds;
- for two years from his last day of service he should not undertake any work as Director of Othrys Limited that involves providing advice to any company or organisation involved in or on matters relating to the UK defence market.
The letter containing the Committee’s advice was sent in June 2017.
Terence Jagger recused himself from Lt Gen Jones’ application for advice to take up a role at Equilibrium Gulf.