Nick Cooke-Priest

Nick Cooke-Priest OBE has enjoyed a decadent military career, having served in the Royal Navy for 30 years. An experienced executive and mariner, Nick held a variety of roles in the force – from aviator to warfare and executive officer. Having since retired from the Royal Navy, Nick has embarked on a business career, currently working as the CEO of TRU3T GROUP, a leading pioneer of a decentralised and citizen-centric world. Now also hired as a keynote speaker for corporate events, Nick is booked to speak on leadership, corporate structure, dealing with career catastrophes and wonders of life at sea in the Royal Navy.

Spending 30 years in the Royal Navy, Nick had the privilege to hold four major warship commands during his service. His first major warship command came in 2010, when he was appointed as the Commanding Officer of HMS Kent – a role in which he commanded 200 people, embarked on two Mediterranean and two Baltic/Scandinavian voyages. He later went on to become the Commanding Officer of the HMS Iron Duke, on which he conducted maritime security patrols and protected offshore oil platforms in a deployment to the Arabian Gulf. He later spent some time working as the Directing Staff of the Joint Services Command and Staff College and in the Finance and Military Capability providing advice on naval aviation. He later became an Operations Directorate of Military Strategic Effects and the Staff Operations Officer of the UK Maritime Component Command of the Royal Navy, before being deployed as the Commanding Officer of HMS Bulwark in 2015.

He later worked as part of the Higher Command and Staff Course and as a Strategy Planner for the Ministry of Defence, before ultimately being deployed as the Commanding Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth – the world’s most advanced aircraft carrier with a crew of up to 1300 people. Spending several months as the Commanding Officer, Nick was personally responsible for the welfare of the ship. Retiring from the force in 2019, Nick went on to become the Chief Operating Officer of SiriusInsight.AI and the Executive Vice President of Maritime and Space for UKCloud Ltd. In 2022, Nick became the CEO of TRU3T GROUP, a company working to advance data economies and build a global network of secure and sustainable Web 3.0 clouds.

Considered the most experienced naval commander of his generation, Nick is now highly sought after to share his unique insight as a keynote speaker. Articulate, enthusiastic and engaging, Nick uses his 30 years of military experience coupled with his five years of leadership and management in the corporate world to inform his speeches on topics such as resilience, teamwork, emotional intelligence, trust, courage and adaptable management. Delivering tangible and compelling stories, Nick Cooke-Priest OBE’s expertise is unparalleled and relatable to all people in positions of leadership or management. Book him today!