Martin Richards

Martin served for thirty years with the UK Metropolitan Police, achieving the rank of Chief Superintendent and holding command responsibility for a range of high-profile major incidents. During his distinguished career, he led management and leadership development for supervisors, completed a secondment to the Home Office National Police Powers and Policy Unit, and concluded his service as the UK Director of Strategic Police Command Firearms Training.

As an international hostage and crisis negotiator, he was responsible for the 24/7 deployment of negotiation teams and the formulation of negotiation strategies for incidents involving suicide interventions, armed sieges, protesters, and gang-related kidnaps. He personally negotiated the release of UK citizens around the world, including in conflict zones such as Afghanistan and Iraq, and advised UK Ambassadors and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on international kidnap management. His outstanding service has earned him multiple Chief Officer commendations, as well as recognition from the UK Prime Minister and the Head of the United Nations.

In 2011, Martin joined Control Risks as an Associate Director, leading more than 200 kidnap-related training programmes in over 40 countries and supporting clients in managing kidnap-for-ransom and extortion incidents globally.

Following this, he was appointed Regional Security Director for Bloomberg LP in Hong Kong, overseeing operations across Africa, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. In this role, he enhanced travel safety, security, and crisis management protocols that significantly strengthened business resilience and continuity during public demonstrations, natural disasters, and terrorism-related incidents.

Upon returning to the UK in 2017, Martin founded two crisis management companies, creating products that apply the principles of hostage and crisis negotiation to the corporate world. He currently serves as a kidnap and extortion response consultant, having managed more than 100 cases and debriefed over 100 hostages.

Book Martin Richards for your event to gain transformative insights into negotiation, crisis management, and leadership in high-stakes environments. His engaging keynotes provide actionable strategies that empower organisations to enhance decision-making, resolve conflicts, and lead with confidence.