Kweku Adoboli began his working life as an operations analyst at UBS Investment Bank. Within three years he was recruited to the ETF and Index desk on the equities trading floor. In 2007, with just 10 months experience as an ETF trader, he was given joint responsibility for the desk’s... Read more
Kweku Adoboli began his working life as an operations analyst at UBS Investment Bank. Within three years he was recruited to the ETF and Index desk on the equities trading floor. In 2007, with just 10 months experience as an ETF trader, he was given joint responsibility for the desk’s US$50bn trading book. Through the global financial crisis and after, the UBS ETF Desk was a central driver of the Equities Business’ post-crisis recovery strategy.
In 2011, under pressure to accelerate trading profits through client and proprietary trading, the desk incurred a $2.3bln trading loss to the bank. In 2011 Kweku Adoboli took sole responsibility for the trading loss and systems employed by the desk. Subsequently convicted of fraud, but found not guilty of false accounting, he served half of a seven-year prison sentence. Since release from prison in June 2015, Adoboli has worked with students, academics, regulators, and multi-disciplinary corporate institutions across the UK to help deliver lessons on risk management, ethics, complexity and failure. He’s also worked with the UK Government – including the Counter Terrorism Unit of the UK Special Forces alongside Tony Blair and General Sir Peter Wall, the Bank of England, and ironically the UK Home Office.
Kweku Adoboli has gained a unique understanding of the geopolitical links between global financial, criminal justice and immigration systems, and our wider societies. He is a staunch advocate for cultural and systemic change in the finance industry with a practical and academic focus on ethics, responsible leadership and purposeful – rather than extractive – financial activity. Controversially deported from the UK in November 2018, just as the West endeavours to build its wall to keep out the populations of the Global South, Adoboli now shares his lessons across Africa and the world.
Tell us about your event, one of our consultants will reach out within 24 hours.
You can book Kweku Adoboli through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Kweku's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Kweku Adoboli's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Kweku tailored to your event.
Kweku Adoboli speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Kweku to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Kweku Adoboli for events worldwide, subject to Kweku's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Kweku Adoboli is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Kweku can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Kweku Adoboli on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Kweku can offer.
Kweku Adoboli delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Kweku Adoboli's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of Kweku's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Kweku Adoboli can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of Kweku's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Kweku Adoboli is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Kweku Adoboli, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Kweku's current availability for your dates.