Experienced.
Forward-thinking.
Innovative.

Educated at Harrow School and Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, Richard was commissioned into the Scots Guards in 1970 and subsequently joined the SAS in 1975. He served four operational tours, was decorated for bravery in 1978 and appointed MBE in 1979. During his time in the SAS he worked on every continent, being intimately involved in many international incidents during the 1980s.

From 1988 to 1991 he served as Deputy Chief Executive of The Leadership Trust, an executive training centre providing leadership and management training for over 2,500 chief executive officers and other key executives each year.

In 1991, Richard was invited to join Defence Systems Ltd., a company providing security services mainly in Africa. He became a director and Deputy Chief Executive in 1993 and Chief Executive Officer in 1995. During this time, the client base was increased from eight to over 200 multinational companies and supra-national agencies. In 1996, Richard and the Chairman of Defence Systems led a successful management buyout from Hambro Group Investments with the support of NatWest Ventures and DLJ Phoenix and merged with a U.S. public company.

He left Defence Systems in 1998 and in 1999 formed Hart, providing specialized security services on a global basis across land, sea and air. Hart soon became the founding company of the Hart Group, of which Richard is Chairman.

Today, it is known as the Chelsea Group and employs over 8,000 personnel with offices in Limassol, London, Dubai, Washington DC, New York, Sydney, Mogadishu, Kabul and Shanghai. The offerings of the group include specialized managed services, power generation, aviation security, strategic consultancy, construction, portable housing, camp management, water purification, leadership training and software development.

In August 2006, Hart became a principal partner in Symbion Power LLC and Richard the Chairman. Symbion Power LLC is an engineering, procurement and construction company specializing in complex electrical infrastructure power projects.

Richard is a Vice President of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) and an Officer in the Order of St John.

James Houghton is a former British Army officer who served as an infantry (the Black Watch) and Special Forces officer over a 12-year career. His last appointment was in SHAPE working on the integration of strategic policy between member Nations. James has extensive operational experience in a multitude of countries including Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Iraq and the Balkans.

He left the army in 2004 and entered into the commercial security world. He has since been supporting clients working in the Development, Oil & Gas, Defence and Government sectors.

His previous roles included supporting clients on USAID and DFID funded projects in Afghanistan and Africa. James has a BA (Hons) in Politics and Social Sciences and is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

When not working he enjoys spending time with his family in Dubai, coaching a children’s rugby team and when there is an opportunity, he is an enthusiastic golfer.

In 2005, Caroline started her own consultancy and since then has worked with companies in Asia, Europe and North America. Over the years Caroline has been advising institutional clients and investment funds as well as private and strategic investors who finance consumer products, energy oil and gas, real estate and technology opportunities.

From 2005 to 2007, she worked closely with a variety of real estate companies in Monaco; she then ran the opening of the Norwegian boat company Hydrolift in Monaco, handling the business development and the marketing of the company.  Since 2011, she has been a consultant and Mergers and Acquisitions advisory, working closely with financial institutions and a variety of international companies from London, Italy and Dubai.

Caroline is an Austrian citizen and has been a Monaco resident for the past 15 years, where she lives with her two children. She is fluent in German, English, French and Italian.

Stuart’s core experience is as a Senior Executive and Security Expert in International Affairs and Engagement in the Diplomatic Service, Security, Intelligence, Military and United Nations. He held Senior Positions in the Diplomatic Service (The Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade [Australia]) both Domestic and Overseas, Dept. of Defence and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

His last senior diplomatic post was Assistant Secretary Diplomatic Security Branch where Stuart was responsible for the security and safety of the Australian diplomatic corps overseas including 7,000 personnel; AUD 3 billion in assets (Embassies, buildings, equipment, vehicles); and classified information in over 100 countries. He has extensive experience in-country in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Indonesia, China, Libya and North Africa.

He is an International Executive in an oversight committee of Technical Security Counter Measures (TSCM) and Cyber Security. A contributor and founding partner of the Private Security Companies charter International Code of Conduct for Private Security Providers. Currently he is Director of International Cooperation and Anti-Corruption Policy Development in Sport Integrity in Paris, located at the UNESCO HQ’s.

Stuart has been Vice President of the Board of Trustees to UNICRI (UN) since 2009. He is a Senior Executive with the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) and co-founder of the Cheka-Sana Foundation that supports vulnerable and impoverished children in Mwanza, Tanzania, including access to a sports academy.