Sir Richard Needham has spent over 45 years in business and politics. He has unrivalled access at the highest levels into both public and private sectors in Asia, Europe and the US. Sir Richard originally served as a Conservative MP and Trade Minister. From 1985-1992 Richard was the Minister responsible... Read more
Sir Richard Needham has spent over 45 years in business and politics. He has unrivalled access at the highest levels into both public and private sectors in Asia, Europe and the US. Sir Richard originally served as a Conservative MP and Trade Minister.
From 1985-1992 Richard was the Minister responsible for redesigning and rebuilding Belfast. He is widely recognised throughout Northern Ireland as the man responsible for turning round and regenerating both the North’s infrastructure and economic base.
In 1992 Richard was promoted to Minister of Trade and became Michael Heseltine’s Deputy. Over three years he overhauled and reinvigorated the whole of Britain’s export strategy. He is accepted in Whitehall as Britain’s most successful Minister of Trade since the War. In recognition of his work in Northern Ireland and at the DTI he was made a Privy Counsellor in 1994 and knighted in 1997.
Since leaving politics he has become involved in a number of businesses. He was international Director at GEC plc from 1995-97, Meggitt Plc from 1997-2002, Chairman of the London Heart Hospital for five years and Biocompatibles Plc for six years together with a number of other public companies.
Over the last 16 years he was a Director of Dyson, and Deputy Chairman for four of them. He was largely responsible for the development of the Company’s overseas sales operations in Europe, the US and the Far East, particularly Japan. He was also responsible for Dyson’s decision to move its manufacturing to Malaysia. He has close personal ties with many of ASEAN’s business and political leaders. He has recently stepped down from the Board of Avon Plc where he was Chairman for five years. During his time he oversaw a complete change of strategy and direction as a result of which the Company succeeded in moving from substantial losses to substantial profits and the shares rose from a low of 25p to £4.50.
He is now a director of Rank Plc Britain’s largest entertainment and gaming group, and director of the European operations of Japanese giant NEC Corporation. He is currently Chairman of Rose Petroleum Plc.
He is President of the British Exporters’ Association and continues informally to advise the British Government on trade promotion matters. He is also an advisor to the President of Colombia on the Peace Process.
Richard is the author of two books, ‘Honourable Member’ and ‘Battling for Peace’. He is an Honorary Doctor of Laws at the University of Ulster and in 2004, was appointed Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star by the Emperor of Japan.
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You can book Richard Needham through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Richard's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Richard Needham'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 Richard tailored to your event.
Richard Needham 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 Richard to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Richard Needham for events worldwide, subject to Richard'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 Richard Needham 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 Richard can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Richard Needham 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 Richard can offer.
Richard Needham delivers keynotes in Italian. 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.
Richard Needham's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of Richard'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.
Richard Needham 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 Richard'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 Richard Needham 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 Richard Needham, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Richard's current availability for your dates.