Derek Leatherdale has been a highly regarded expert on geopolitics and risk since 1999 when he started working for the British Government on national security issues. He has since forged a career helping organisations to prepare for and navigate political tensions, a service that has secured Derek’s reputation as a successful corporate speaker.
In 2007, Derek was appointed Global Head of Geopolitical Risk at HSBC. In this role, he integrated geopolitics into the bank's key policies and processes, to ensure they respond to political conflict efficiently. Derek was later promoted to Head of Strategy and Planning in 2014, where he established HSBC’s first global government affairs function. In doing so, he reduced the bank’s political risk. Derek also worked with international bodies like G7 and G20 to drive public policy change, an experience that makes him a highly capable public speaker.
Recently, Derek has thrived in roles including Associate Director at the Risk Coalition, where he helps boards and committees manage geopolitical risk, and as a Lead Faculty member at The DCRO Institute. In 2022, he joined The London Institute of Banking & Finance as a Visiting Scholar. In this role, Derek uses his knowledge of risk and regulations to aid international financial institutions in the management of geopolitical conflict.
After Derek founded GRI Strategies in 2018, he was appointed Managing Director of the risk consultancy company. His company pledges to change the way organisations manage political and geopolitical risk, using professional analysis and Derek’s understanding of industry standards. As a Managing Director, he teaches corporate clients how to respond to political and geopolitical events, a service he also provides as a public speaker.
In his role as a corporate speaker, Derek helps businesses to operate on a global scale. With his industry knowledge of financial and risk management, clients can rest assured that an event featuring Derek will include the very latest geopolitical guidance and best practices. As the political climate becomes more unstable, a speaker like Derek is essential; his actionable risk management strategies are developed with your business in mind.
