Our People
The people who work for Horus Security are engaging, creative and diverse. Their support and development is integral to the success of the whole company.
Jonathan Whiteley - CEO & Founder
Jonathan is a former Lieutenant Colonel in Military Intelligence who founded Horus after a 23-year career running security, intelligence and counter-intelligence operations all over the world.
When initial aspirations of becoming a hippy or a ‘rock legend’ were unsuccessful, Jonathan attended the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst. Following his graduation, Jonathan worked for the British Army in various complex, highly volatile countries such as Iraq, the Balkans, and Cyprus. He was seconded at various times to all three UK national intelligence agencies and was Mentioned in Despatches for his work in Northern Ireland.
After leaving the army in 2006, Jonathan ran a successful project for Oxford University and went on from that to set up Horus, growing the business to more than 40 people over the next ten years. He now runs the company from its HQ in Oxford overseeing its expansion as it continues to provide a secure environment for organisations and their employees wherever they work, across the globe.
Born and bred in Herefordshire, Jonathan is a season ticket holder for the Worcester Warriors rugby union team (they need his support!), has three grown-up daughters, and a partner who is a Professor at Oxford University. He speaks reasonable German, less reasonable Russian, and has a degree in European History and German Language.
CEO AND FOUNDER
Colonel Tim Collins OBE - Shareholder
One of the best-known names associated with the British Army, Tim Collins is a former SAS officer, former battalion Commander, and now author and broadcaster.
It was as the commanding officer of 1st Battalion Royal Irish that Tim gave the now famous eve-of-battle speech to his troops in Iraq on Wednesday 19th March 2003. The speech has gone down in modern military history as an inspiration to world leaders and soldiers alike
Born in Belfast in 1960, Tim joined the Royal Irish Rangers in West Berlin after university, before volunteering for the Special Air Service (SAS), later taking part in the first Gulf War as an SAS Captain, becoming operations officer of 22 SAS in 1995.
Rejoining the Royal Irish in 1997, he took command of the 1st Battalion in 2001, leading it on operations in East Tyrone and the Liberation of Iraq. His Army career also saw him serve in the Falkland Islands, Germany, Cyprus, and Gibraltar.
He was awarded the OBE in 2003 and retired from the Army in 2004 as a Colonel. He has since co-founded New Century, serving with the US Marine Corps, and Pinpoint Corporate Services, a UK company. Tim has written a best-selling memoire “Rules of Engagement” as well as writing and presenting numerous TV films.
In May 2020, Colonel Collins was a guest on the British Chamber of Commerce Singapore podcast to share more on his journey in Iraq during the Gulf War, shares his experience of ‘Leadership in Adversity’ during his time in the military and how he has translated this into civilian life and industry.
SHAREHOLDER
David Yates MBE - Legal Counsel
David is a former senior military officer and Brigadier, and formerly the most senior operational lawyer in the British Army.
He has advised government ministers and acted as the Deputy Judge and Coroner in Cyprus, as well as leading a Law of Armed Conflict directive for the entire army.
After successfully studying to become a solicitor, David attended the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst and rose through the ranks to become the Army Legal Officer in 1989, responsible for significant operations, budgets and international teams, as well as becoming the key British Army adviser on all equality, diversity, and inclusivity issues.
He was appointed as Brigadier Operational Law in 2010 and in 2012, transferred his military experience to consulting in the UK and the Middle East, and has since supported defence and security clients on a wide range of issues including security investigations, data protection, strategy development, organisational transformation and project management. He was awarded an MBE in 1997.
LEGAL COUNSEL
Richard Kirkby - Chief Technology Officer
Richard is a technology expert with more than 20 years’ experience in the IT sector, where he has both led companies and sat on their boards.
After graduating in economics, Richard co-founded several organisations in the IT field, as well as working as technology director and chief technology officer in various other roles, including an academy schools trust where he worked for 16 years.
At Horus, Richard plays a key role in developing the company’s own R&D team and strategy, a crucial component of its growth plans over the coming years. He has a particular track record in identifying new trends in technology and applying them for client and business advantage.
A former pupil of Oxford Boys School, Richard is a keen sports enthusiast and has retained his roots by supporting Oxford United FC.
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
Senior leadership
The senior people who lead Horus have simply unrivalled global experience. They are drawn from military intelligence, law enforcement, national security agencies, commerce and academia, working at the very highest levels.
Each with decades of experience, our senior leaders have worked in all three of the UK national intelligence agencies, the FBI, Interpol, New Scotland Yard, the National Crime Agency, and the British Army. They have overseen operations in some of the most complex hostile, environments across the globe including Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans, and Northern Ireland.
In all cases they have followed these remarkable – in some cases, acclaimed – roles with further work in major commercial or public sector organisations and projects, rounding off the formative stages of their careers with experience and insights gained from corporate environments.
They now bring all of this extraordinary experience and expertise to Horus, on behalf of our clients.
We listen
We understand
We bring expertise
We deliver
Our clients chose us because of our impressive track record, unrivalled experience and focus on delivery