Richard Leach

Richard facilitates FSS services in East Africa and is a versatile Pilot and Operations Manager with decades of experience “making it happen” working in developing countries for the Aviation, Agriculture, Oil & Gas and renewables sectors.

Commissioned Officer – Richard served with the UK Military 1st Bn The Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire. Serving in Northern Ireland, Kenya and Norway between 1995 and 2001. Following his military career Richard gained over ten years in managerial and project risk roles within the Oil and Gas sector. Security management experience gained over a wide range of deployments in the security and liaison role across UN, NGO, PMC and Commercial sectors.

Roles ranging from General Manager at Lion Petroleum, Kenya, Country Manager, Taipan Resources, Operations Manager Pexco Exploration Ethiopia, Liaison coordinator for onshore drilling in Algeria with BP & Hess, risk management for offshore drilling in Mauritania with Woodside, corporate security with Chevron in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Algeria, seismic security operations with Shell in Algeria, risk management and planning for Petronas in Ethiopia. Richard also holds experience as a commercial rotary wing aviation pilot. Having Provided aviation and occupational health and safety services to Salini-Impregilio constructing the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Gibe 2, Gibe 3 and Koysha hydro-electric mega-projects. Stand-out projects include securing the first onshore rig mobilisation from Mombasa port to the Lokichar Basin for Weatherford Drilling and Tullow Oil. Building a survey camp 500km north west across the Sahara from the only metalled road alongside the Nile at Dongola in North Sudan. Planning and delivering all elements to fly a fifty-man US Secret Service contingent around Ethiopia in support of a week long tour by a former President.