James Woods
London,NWM
Summary
Senior Advisor with over 10 years of global experience in government, private sector, and multilateral platforms. Expertise in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and geopolitical initiatives. Demonstrated success in managing reputations for governments and corporations, as well as leading public affairs for high-profile campaigns. Recognized for delivering effective communication strategies in complex, high-pressure environments.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Partner – Strategy, Public Affairs & Sector Advisory
Rainbow World Group
Global
05.2017 - Current
- Managed stakeholder strategy across sport, mining, infrastructure, and investment platforms.
- Supported elite player transfers exceeding £45M while launching Africa’s Football Data Centre.
- Negotiated partnership between Malawi and Club Deportivo Leganés; established national branding and international positioning.
- Developed sport diplomacy and cultural communications campaigns in 12 countries.
Founder & Strategic Advisor
GlobiQ International / Private Consulting
London
01.2013 - Current
- Spearheaded high-value advisory projects across public affairs, campaign strategy, and strategic communications.
- Managed PPI tokenization communications in UAE; facilitated stakeholder engagement, regulatory messaging, and global media launch.
- Designed comms for presidential and national campaigns; coordinated messaging, donor strategy, and polling narratives.
- Delivered communications frameworks for major agri, energy, and infrastructure clients in emerging markets.
- Led market entry, government relations, and strategic communications for RAK Gas across Malawi, Tanzania, and Burundi, supporting upstream investment targeting over US$100M, including licence negotiations and positioning within the region’s projected US$42B LNG value chain.
- Directed integrated entry and stakeholder strategy for Surestream Petroleum in Malawi, Zambia, and Burkina Faso, supporting oil, gas, and gold projects with a combined footprint of over US$20M; oversaw licence negotiation support, ESG alignment, and public affairs in volatile jurisdictions.
- Oversaw government relations and public positioning for Access Power’s renewable energy market entry into Tanzania backing 30MW+ solar projects and coordinating communications on a US$7M African Clean Energy Facility award to support blended finance and grid integration.
Senior Advisor – Sovereign Advisory & Strategic Risk
KRL International
Washington D.C.
04.2021 - 11.2024
- Advised sovereign governments on geopolitical strategy and strategic communications.
- Supported cross-border campaign positioning to enhance institutional visibility in Africa and MENA.
- Designed communications architecture for post-election transitions and multilateral development finance dialogues.
- Enhanced stakeholder messaging across diverse sectors to strengthen regional advocacy efforts.
Associate Director, Strategic Communications
Farrant Group
London
11.2021 - 11.2022
- Led strategic communications for Project New Era, engaging HM Treasury and Bank of England.
- Developed narrative frameworks for fintech mergers and acquisitions, litigation public relations, and investor messaging.
- Managed communications for Nigeria’s $10B vulture fund case in collaboration with an international law firm.
- Generated over £5M in strategic accounts within fintech, energy, and government sectors.
Head of Chancery / Senior Diplomat
Embassy of Malawi to Belgium and the EU
Brussels
01.2018 - 11.2021
- Negotiated over €100 million in development finance from EIB and $72 million from IFAD for rural infrastructure projects.
- Developed and executed donor strategy for EU institutions, enhancing visibility by 60%.
- Directed diplomatic relations across Belgium, France, Monaco, Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Andorra.
Consultant
S-RM Intelligence & Risk Consulting
London
02.2019 - 09.2021
- Crafted crisis communication strategies and reputation defense for M&A and energy-sector clients.
- Designed messaging frameworks based on due diligence for ESG-sensitive and post-conflict market entry.
Advisor, Public Affairs
Invest Africa
London
04.2014 - 10.2020
- Established UK-Africa trade dialogue and investor engagement platforms to foster collaboration.
- Developed communication materials for green infrastructure initiatives and blended finance mobilization.
Strategic Communications & Research
Mo Ibrahim Foundation / Satya Capital
London
02.2011 - 11.2013
- Spearheaded media and narrative strategy for US$5M Ibrahim Prize and Africa Governance Index.
- Developed impactful communication content for global opinion leaders, think tanks, and donor institutions.
- Coordinated investment communications for Satya Capital, managing messaging across LPs, DFIs, and deal partners.
Education
Executive MBA -
University of Oxford, Kellogg College
MSc Social Policy & Development -
London School of Economics
BA Politics, Philosophy & History -
University of London
Skills
- Stakeholder engagement
- Strategic communications
- Crisis management
- Regulatory compliance
- Public affairs
- Market analysis
Certification
- Certificate, Leadership - University of Oxford
- Certificate, AI Strategy & Governance – Wharton School, UPenn
- Certificate, Digital Transformation – University of Virginia
Awards
Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow (African Leadership Institute), Africa Young Leader of the Year 2015 (African Achievers Awards)
SELECTED IMPACT
- Led strategic communications on 11 African presidential campaigns, overseeing media frameworks, polling narratives, elite messaging, and donor alignment.
- Directed launch and communications for PPI tokenisation (S350B–1.5T government asset-backed), advising on strategic messaging and event architecture in Abu Dhabi.
- Managed UK’s first private-sector-led CBDC pilot, supporting messaging with HM Treasury, Bank of England, EY, and BCG.
- Oversaw communications strategy for Nigeria’s $10B vulture fund litigation, helping secure successful government defence alongside leading international counsel.
- Secured and led over £30M in client mandates across multiple companies.
- Structured public-private messaging and brand alignment for Club Deportivo Leganés x Malawi partnership, supporting national branding and soft-power diplomacy.
- Delivered market-entry and stakeholder communications strategy for Dutch agri-processing expansion into Zambia and Tanzania.
- Advised on regulatory and strategic communications for Libya’s telecom sector, facilitating narrative realignment in post-conflict engagement.
- Led strategic communications and digitisation strategy support for the Government of Ghana across key ministries and development platforms.
Timeline
Associate Director, Strategic Communications
Farrant Group
11.2021 - 11.2022
Senior Advisor – Sovereign Advisory & Strategic Risk
KRL International
04.2021 - 11.2024
Consultant
S-RM Intelligence & Risk Consulting
02.2019 - 09.2021
Head of Chancery / Senior Diplomat
Embassy of Malawi to Belgium and the EU
01.2018 - 11.2021
Partner – Strategy, Public Affairs & Sector Advisory
Rainbow World Group
05.2017 - Current
Advisor, Public Affairs
Invest Africa
04.2014 - 10.2020
Founder & Strategic Advisor
GlobiQ International / Private Consulting
01.2013 - Current
Strategic Communications & Research
Mo Ibrahim Foundation / Satya Capital
02.2011 - 11.2013
Executive MBA -
University of Oxford, Kellogg College
MSc Social Policy & Development -
London School of Economics
BA Politics, Philosophy & History -
University of London
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