Richard Leaman

Rear Admiral Richard Derek Leaman (born 27 July 1956) is a British charity executive and former senior Royal Navy officer. Since 2021, he has been Diocesan Secretary and CEO of the Diocese of Bristol. He was previously CEO of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (2010 to 2016) and CEO of the Tall Ships Youth Trust (2017 to 2020).

Early life and education Leaman was born on 29 July 1956 in Lynton, Devon, England, to Derek Alan Leaman and Jean Rita Leaman. He was educated at Torquay Boys' Grammar School, an all-boys state grammar school in Torquay, Devon. Later in life, he studied at Manchester Business School and completed the Advanced Management Achievement Course in 2010.

Career Military career In 1975, Leaman began one years training at the Britannia Royal Naval College. He was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1976. In 1982, he attended the Principal warfare officer Course and won the Edgerton Gunnery Prize; he was the youngest ever PWO. to commander in 1991, He served as Chief of staff at the Allied Maritime Command Naples from 2005 to 2007, and as Deputy Chief of Staff at NATO Strategic Command in Norfolk, Virginia, United States from 2007 to 2009.

Later career In January 2010, Leaman was announced as the next chief executive officer of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in succession to Bridget Warr. He took up the position in April 2010. During his time as CEO of Guide Dogs, he "increased the number of service users by 50%, and overseen double-digit fundraising growth".

Personal life

In 2017, Leaman married Dr Jacqueline Anne Grey. He has two sons, Adrian and Nicholas, from his first marriage

Honours In the 1993 Queen's Birthday Honours, Leaman was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "for disaster relief services after Hurricane Andrew". In the 2010 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) "for his work on international maritime security".