John Heaver is a seasoned strategic leader, a former Royal Marines Officer, and has competed for GB Age Group Triathlon, spending two decades leading people through pressure, complexity, and change. His career spans the frontline of combat operations, senior leadership in global financial services, and mentoring leaders across corporate, public, and voluntary sectors.
Commissioned into the Royal Marines at 19, John led diverse teams on multiple tours of Afghanistan. He served alongside some of the most elite units around the world and later became the sole officer responsible for training and developing the next generation of Royal Marines Officers. These experiences instilled in him timeless lessons of trust, adaptability, aligned goals, and the service of others — values that remain at the heart of his leadership philosophy.
After leaving the military, John rose rapidly through senior leadership positions in one of the UK’s largest FTSE 100 companies, where he built high-performing global teams, designed and delivered large-scale transformation programmes, and advised executives on resilience, risk, and innovation. Throughout, he has consistently invested in people, developing leaders at all levels and embedding cultures of trust, service, and accountability.
A passionate advocate of servant leadership, John believes that whether on the battlefield or in the boardroom, leaders succeed by empowering others, creating trust, and aligning people to a shared purpose. He has designed and delivered leadership programmes for corporate, security, and non-profit clients, and actively mentors veterans, peers, and young people.
As a speaker, John combines authenticity and storytelling with practical tools, showing how lessons forged in combat and tested in corporate life can help any leader thrive under pressure. His talks leave audiences energised, challenged, and equipped to grow — not just as leaders of organisations, but as leaders in life.
John Heaver's official speaking topics are listed below:
Trust and Service: The Foundation of High-Performing Teams
From elite military units to global corporate teams, John shows how service of others, aligned goals, and trust form the backbone of high performance — and how any leader can build these foundations.
Commando Mindset
Discover the mindset that powers the UK’s elite Royal Marines Commandos — and how those same principles can transform teams in any environment.
Leading Through Complexity
Whether in combat zones or navigating FTSE 100 transformation, John explores how leaders can cut through noise, adapt quickly, and inspire confidence in times of uncertainty.
Peak Performance and Balance
What does it take to perform at your best — and sustain it? John draws on his life experiences and professional journey to share practical tools for discipline, resilience, and well-being in leadership and life.
- 2025 - Advisory and Leadership Partner at the Special Projects Group Ltd.
- 2024 - Mentor at the Forces Employment Charity
- 2022 - Head of Strategy & Transformation at Barclays
- 2020 - Head of Counter Economic Crime at Barclays
- 2017 - Strategy and Operations Lead at Barclays
- 2005 - Royal Marines Officer at the UK Ministry of Defence
How to hire John Heaver
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring John Heaver for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
