KNO Solutions

Leveraging my experience in defence training & instruction, procurement, NATO, and emerging technologies, I am working with the team at KNO Solutions to develop world-class training programmes for military clients around the globe.

KNO Solutions is a UK-based total solutions provider for the defence, aviation and security sectors. Offering proven, reliable solutions to customers worldwide, KNO fully integrates the 3 key elements of: Technology, Tactics and Training to enhance its customers operational capability and maximise mission effectiveness.

Learn more here: https://www.knosolutions.com/

Head of Training Solutions

Advanced Services & Maintenance

Responsible for developing bids & presenting to military clients, alongside strategic partners, focusing predominantly on military training & maintenance contracts for the GCC.

International Business Development Strategy

Cornucopia Capital

Cornucopia Capital is a private investment firm founded by Robin Choudhury in 1999 and is focused on deal origination, complex corporate finance advisory, financing and investment in the technology, property, consumer-facing, and leisure sectors.

Cornucopia Capital has a team of dedicated professionals based in Mayfair, London and other key members of the team are also professionally qualified with significant experience with blue chip companies.

Operating Partner

Clear River Partners

Responsible for developing global investment strategies, leading teams to execute mergers and acquisitions, and providing oversight of portfolio companies.

Partner

1764.io

Co-led, with two business partners, the launch of a new private members’ club dedicated to professionals and enthusiasts from across the blockchain and web3 technology sector, from first concept to the acquisition of Blacks Club within seven months, despite a significant downturn in the economy and crypto markets.
 
Primarily responsible for strategy, raising capital and business development, whilst simultaneously overseeing the turnaround of Blacks Club - which was acquired in a distressed state with significant issues with its team, food & beverage & events operations, and poorly maintained infrastructure within the Grade 1 listed building.

Co-Founder

Various, UK

Experience as both a founder of, and advisor to, numerous start-up ventures across sectors such as deep tech, SAAS (software as a service), management consulting, and business coaching. Quickly gaining practical insight and knowledge into concept development, corporate structuring, financial planning/forecasting, commercial modelling, company valuations, and raising capital.

Founder / Advisor

Royal Air Force (RAF)

A diverse and broad career as an officer, pilot and helicopter instructor.

Specific details of my RAF career history can be viewed below.

Senior Officer, Pilot, and Qualified Helicopter Instructor

Release to Service Authority - MOD Abbey Wood

Key Achievements:

•	Ensured the safe modification of three fleets of Royal Air Force helicopters, worth in excess of £200m, in the face of significant political, budgetary and operational pressures. Maintaining sight of the bigger picture, demonstrating resilience, and understanding & being able to explain the complex regulatory environment in simple terms were pivotal to success in the role.

•	Improved cross-organisational communication and restructured areas of responsibility across 20 key stakeholders to increase collaborative working, eliminate single points of failure and duplication of effort; thereby reducing risk and increasing the quality of the output. This was demonstrated by a tangible drop in the number of subsequent amendments required post modification delivery. 

•	Successfully identified & developed a comprehensive strategy to safely manage a significant risk to aviation safety, applicable across the whole of the military’s airborne assets, that had been misunderstood and overlooked for upwards of three decades.

•	Enabled a very short notice modification to the Puma helicopter fleet, to increase their capability to satisfy the Prime Minister’s commitment to support the Caribbean with disaster relief following hurricane Irma.

Senior Helicopter Fleet Strategy & Safety Advisor

NATO Joint Force Command Naples

Key Achievements:

•	Facilitated NATO’s immediate response to Russia following a critical diplomatic incident following a Turkish fighter jet shooting down a Russian bomber over Syria; assembling and directing all the relevant key advisors, facilitating discussions and compiling their recommendations into succinct briefs and reports to directly inform NATO’s senior executive board and enable them to make real-time informed decisions.

•	Reviewed, developed and implemented a management plan to increase efficiency, output and corporate knowledge, whilst, in parallel, decreasing risk. This resulted in greater employee morale and satisfaction across the workforce, and was evident in their improved performance during an annual large-scale NATO exercise held over a two-week period, involving all the affected personnel.

•	Built strong relationships throughout the NATO organisation to improve communication and optimize the flow of information; resulting in enhanced support to the executive board.

Operations & Intelligence Team Leader

Defence Helicopter Flying School, RAF Shawbury

Key Achievements:

•	Successfully managed 25 staff to deliver a complex six-month flying course to over 60 military students per year, with an annual budget of £2.7m. Personally instructed and mentored 36 student pilots as their primary instructor – all passed the course with flying colours.

•	Hosted the official state delegations from the US and Bahrain attending DSEi (Defence and Security Equipment International – the world’s largest arms fair) in London. Responsible for managing their schedules for the duration of their visits; it was imperative to understand their future capability requirements and liaise with the relevant CEO’s of British companies to organise appropriate meetings. At least one contract was awarded to a UK firm from Bahrain as a consequence of those meetings.

•	Led the organisation and delivery of a highly complex series of air displays for a high-profile car racing event with significant public attention. This required quickly building strong relationships with the key external stakeholders, excellent communication throughout the planning stages and execution, and the ability to manage a team of 100 people and multiple aircraft in a dynamic & time-critical environment.

•	Managed and coached the RAF Luge Team to victory at the Tri-Service championships and developed 3 team members to represent Great Britain.

Squadron Executive and Flying Instructor

Business Leader & Strategic Advisor | Emerging Technology | Defence & Security | Private Equity & Corporate Finance

As a former senior military officer and pilot, with extensive commercial experience from across multiple industries & sectors, I offer a unique blend of leadership, creativity, and versatility to every project or venture I work on.

Currently specialising in global business development and operations, I have gained valuable experience previously as a founder, entrepreneur, and dealmaker along with large organisational expertise in the public, private and third sectors.

I’m output driven and work to achieve commercial objectives, whilst remaining flexible and agile, to quickly adapt to circumstances as they inevitably change.


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