Strategy realist and coach

A restless source of curiosity and challenge, Richard is known for his desire to understand and communicate the implications of change, focusing on the things that truly matter to an organisation, as well as to the ecosystem it exists in.

He has 30 years of strategic innovation and growth experience, and helps clients uncover the reality of what growth implies and requires. Trusted when it comes to growth strategy, opportunity mapping and innovation, he has a passion for ensuring clients know why they are growing, as well as knowing how to.

Graduating with a first-class degree in biotechnology from the University of Leeds, he started his career as a Unilever management trainee in new product development, where he soon had to change the name of his group to new category development; he wasn’t just developing new products, he was developing new types of products. He ran a similar group at Boots Healthcare International, before spending 14 years in innovation consulting and joining April as a Partner in January 2020.

Richard uses his experience to help large organisations reflect on the responsibility they have on where and how to grow, a responsibility that is tied to their people, to society and to the planet.

A proud Cornishman, father of four and qualified mountain leader, he is a Non-Executive Director for Mountain Training UK and Ireland and a course leader for the Institute of Directors on its Strategy for Directors course. He is a Lived Experience Coach with National Voices and the founder of Climbing Matters, a programme that uses rock climbing as a source of therapy and healing for people living with severe mental illness.