As Global Research Director at Control Risks I sit within the company’s political risk consultancy, and represent the company as a speaker at major industry, policy and academic conferences. Working with colleagues around the world in our Global Risk Analysis practice, I help deliver Control Risks’ thought leadership on geopolitics and global security. All of this work takes place in the context of the impact on international business – our clients. I coordinate the publication of our annual forecast of political and security risk, RiskMap, in conjunction with our regional analytical teams.I am also on the steering committee of our joint venture with Oxford Economics, and am one of the managers of Economic and Political Risk Evaluator, a subscription service produced by the joint venture.Watch this space as I use LinkedIn as a platform to share Control Risks’ latest thinking on how to succeed in hostile and complex business environments. Follow me on Twitter: @Charles_HeckerFollow Control Risks:Twitter: @Control_RisksLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/control-risks YouTube: www.youtube.com/controlrisks

Managed a staff of more than 60 professionals, drove company strategy on a global basis and directed a process of constant innovation. Projects included: Launched new services; coordinating global roll-outs of new products Expanded the service line to new sites across Africa; strengthening existing teams in Europe Maintained margins and preserved profitability in a difficult economic climate Lead global efforts in thought leadership and marketing Embedded the company’s one-firm culture in new recruits; mentoring middle-managers

Drove strategic growth and oversaw the firm’s activities across a region of company-wide significance. Key accomplishments: Created the leading brand in the Russia/CIS business-risk consultancy space Achieved 50% year-on-year growth in turnover and profit for three years Grew consultancy and research team from 5 to 22 consultants in London and Moscow hubs Curated an ambitious programme of thought leadership in regional business risk Managed the company’s relationships with its highest-priority, multinational clients

Rolled out Europe-wide consultancy practice for Russia/CIS. Key duties included:  Providing long-term, business-risk consultancy to clients with investments in Russia/CIS Developing and expanding consultancy services across company’s European offices Supervising matrix reporting structure and internal market for consultantsManaged the Moscow representative office. Key activities: Acquiring and servicing Moscow-based business, ensuring office profitability; Maintaining company’s profile on Russian market; Hiring and training new staff; Compiling annual budget, strategic planning for company’s Moscow operations;Advised multinational clients on regional business risks. Key activities included: Providing consultancy on pre-investment risk management;  Identifying, investigating and resolving complex problems at existing investments;  Developing the company’s services and creating new approaches to due diligence tasks; Marketing and growing the business; retaining and expanding work for existing clients; Carrying profit-and-loss and quality control responsibility for each project; Representing Control Risks in the press (FT, New York Times) and professional community.Junior member of two-person team advising clients on business risk. Main achievements: Expanded client base and improved client retention; Significantly increased billings, generated and managed substantial increase in workload; Raised company’s profile internationally and in the UK

 Covered news, politics, foreign and military affairs, aviation, aerospace and Russian society. Freelanced to various international media, including the BBC.

Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.