Alastair’s 35-year career has focused on roles at the centre of complex organisations in the private, public and social sectors. Before his current work as an advisor and coach, he worked at McKinsey & Company for 22 years, including a decade as Global Director of Risk. This followed earlier careers in the UK government and as an orchestral and operatic conductor.

As an expert advisor and executive coach, Alastair has worked with leaders, teams and boards in professional services, private equity, family businesses, corporates, start-ups, government and nonprofits.

At McKinsey & Company, he was for ten years the firm’s first-ever Global Director of Risk. He counselled senior leaders and partners of the firm globally on how to navigate complex issues in all sectors and over 120 countries and served as a member of the firm’s senior decision-making committee for its higher-risk client work; advised the firm’s board on the firm’s overall risk priorities, policies, capabilities and culture; and created and led the firm’s global risk function. In earlier McKinsey roles, he co-led work to build the firm’s global public sector practice and advised on government reform in over 30 countries.

As a civil servant in the UK government, he was chief of staff to a cabinet minister and advised on welfare and pensions reform.

As an orchestral and operatic conductor, he led performances at venues including London’s Wigmore Hall, coached opera singers and brought together orchestras, singers, stage directors, managers and sponsors in concerts and opera performances.

His research, publications and speaking engagements cover topics including leading in an era of volatility, the risk imperative facing professional-services firms, family businesses and private equity, how global companies can manage geopolitical risk, government reform, and lessons from conducting for leaders across sectors. He has spoken at forums including the Association of CEOs of Greece, IESE Business School, Madrid and the International Bar Association.

He has made longstanding nonprofit contributions in social inclusion, education and the arts, as an advisor and a board and risk committee member. He is a trustee and board member of London’s Kiln Theatre. Before this, he was the independent member of the Audit, Risk and Compliance committee of the London Interdisciplinary School.

He is passionate about equality, diversity & inclusion, with a long track-record recruiting, mentoring, supporting and sponsoring female, Black and LGBTQ+ professionals.

He studied philosophy and economics at the University of Oxford, followed by postgraduate study in orchestral conducting at the Royal College of Music. He qualified as a business coach with High Distinction through the internationally renowned Meyler Campbell Mastered programme, which is accredited by the Association for Coaching. He is individually accredited as an executive coach by the European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC).