Gary Deakin is a retired Major General in the British Army. An internationally experienced thought leader experienced in developing strategy and delivering winning battle plans with people at the centre. Able to work at the speed of relevance, an expert in achieving unity of effort, the leader you need in a crisis. He relishes the challenge of achieving a senior leaders intent or a CEOs vision.

Founder of Kingfisher Consulting Ltd, inspired by TE Lawrence’s quote “Nine-tenths of tactics are certain, and taught in books; but the irrational tenth is like the kingfisher flashing across the pool, and that is the test of generals”. The Kingfisher team advise, assist and if needed accompany leaders across international public and private sectors in resolving crisis, managing people issues and building resilience. An Othrys Associate, a strategic security and risk advisory company founded on public service values and ethics. He is also an advisor to ABLO Consulting, an international defence consultancy, the new French security think tank OPEWI (Institute for War), and an Honorary Fellow of Birmingham University Leadership Institute.

His last military appointment was Chief of Staff of a NATO Joint Force Command responsible for the planning and execution of NATO operations across Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Following which he developed extensive commercial experience in the renewable energy sector as Head of Transformation at Logan Energy (Integrated Hydrogen Energy Solutions), Non Executive Director to EGEAC Energy (a Spanish / US energy development company) and KIT Consulting, a Jersey based management consultancy focused on delivering sustainability strategies to the finance sector. He then spent a year as Managing Director (UK) for Gardworld, responsible for overseeing the delivery of over £100m in security contracts to diplomatic, development, defence and commercial clients in hostile environments around the world. Previously he served as Commander of a British Army Brigade in Scotland; Deputy Director Strategy, Plans, and Policy in US Central Command; Director of the Comprehensive Crisis Operations and Management Centre in NATO’s Allied Command Operations Belgium; Special Adviser to the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee; and numerous other previous strategy, plans and people appointments. He commanded the 1st Battalion the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, and as an All Arms Battle Group on combat operations in Iraq. Recognised for his his leadership; as a Battle Group Commander in Iraq he became OBE and then as a Director in Allied Command Operations he was made CBE. He completed the UK’s Joint Services Command and Staff College Higher Command and Staff Course in 2010 and the Advanced Command and Staff Course in 2002, achieving 2 Masters Degrees. He completed the Manchester University Business School Advanced Adaptation Course, trained as a Non-Executive Director and been appointed an Honorary Fellow of Birmingham University’s Leadership Institute. Married to Caroln, Head of Support Services for Serco at the UK’s Defence Academy, their son Harry is a Detective Constable in the Metropolitan Police.