Adrian Searle

Adrian has extensive experience across the economic crime, cyber security and broader security landscape. He was formerly Director of the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) and the UK Financial Intelligence Unit (UKFIU), responsible for leading the UK’s operational response to fraud and wider economic crime.

During Adrian’s time at the helm of the NECC, a multi agency unit housed in the National Crime Agency with a focus on public private partnership, highlights included: the launch of a new world leading data fusion initiative with seven UK banks; work with the UK tech sector against industrial scam centres operating in South East Asia; the NCA’s largest ever operation against global illicit finance, and coordinated UK wide Police action against high street fronts for money laundering.

In leading all this, Adrian drew on extensive and varied prior experience. He was previously the head of security and data risk for NatWest Bank, an advisor to the Board and critical friend to the CISO on cyber security. This followed a role as Head of Incident Management in the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) where Adrian led the cross UK response to nationally significant cyber incidents and developed the necessary underpinning processes and relationships.

This in turn drew on the experience of many years in Defence and Security related operational and policy roles, and before that, time in the British Army and making TV documentaries.