Les Chapman BEng, MBA, CMarTech, FIMarEST, FICPEM, AFNI, MSyI
Les is an internationally experienced marine professional and company director specialising in business development, operations, security and management consultancy. With more than 30 years experience in the maritime environment, he has spoken and written articles on a wide range of topics from business risk and contingency planning to government and agency policy on security and maritime matters. Based in London, Les is the Chief Operating Officer of RTI and is also directly responsible for the overall operation and management of the RTI European, Central & South American and Middle East businesses covering aviation, marine, rail, nuclear and other energy industries as well as security and risk management and safety management systems. RTI has entered into a joint venture with ConsultISM and formed a new company called Marine Accident & Risk Consultants (MARC) Ltd, which specialises in Marine Safety and Risk Management, and Les is the Managing Director of MARC. He is a Director of the London Shipping Law Centre – Maritime Business Forum as well as Somerset Consult (a construction project consultancy) and provides the Secretariat for the International Maritime Conciliation and Mediation (IMCAM) Panel and the Association of Average Adjusters (AAA) – all based in the London Office. Les is also the Chairman of the London Branch of the Nautical Institute.
Previously, he has been head of a maritime consultancy group for a leading Classification Society; Maritime Security Director for a leading international business risk consultancy; the Export Promoter for the UK Government for the ports and security industries; and the Marine Operations Manager for one of the most prestigious ports in the UK. Les is a former Canadian Forces and Royal Navy submariner who was responsible for the management of large numbers of personnel and £1 billion nuclear assets in four command appointments. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology and the Institute of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, an Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute, a Member of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, The Security Institute, The Worshipful Company of Arbitrators and The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights. Originally born and brought up in Canada, Les gained a Bachelors Degree in Chemical/Nuclear Engineering from The Royal Military College of Canada and has a MBA specialising in corporate financial metrics. He has lived and worked in the UK since 1980.