Matthew Sykes
| Matthew Sykes | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1955 |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1975 - 2010 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Commands held |
3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery Royal Artillery |
| Battles/wars |
Northern Ireland Bosnian War Kosovo War |
| Awards | Commander of the Royal Victorian Order |
Major General (Richard) Matthew (McQueen) Sykes CVO is currently involved in a number of non-executive, advisory, consultant and voluntary roles. From 2010 to 2014 he was Group Chief Executive of Elizabeth Finn Care, a large charity providing relief from poverty in the UK. A former British Army officer, his military career culminated as Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel) in the UK Ministry of Defence. At the same he served as the Defence Services Secretary from 2007 to 2010 in the Royal Household.
Military career
Sykes was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1975.[1] He became Commanding Officer of 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in 1994.[2] He went on to be Strategic Policy Chief at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in 1997, Chief Co-ordinator of Joint Firepower for the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in 2000 and Director of Corporate Communications for the Army at the Ministry of Defence in 2002.[2] After that he became Director Royal Artillery in 2005 and then Defence Services Secretary in 2007 as well as Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel) from 2009 before retiring from the Army in 2010.[1] He served on operations in Northern Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. During his time as Defence Services Secretary, he was responsible for the introduction of the Elizabeth Cross awarded to families of the British Armed Forces killed in action or as a result of a terrorist attack since the Second World War.[3]
Post military career
From 2010 to 2014 he was Group Chief Executive of Elizabeth Finn Care, a British charity helping people in the UK struggling with financial hardship. During the same period he was a non-executive director of Elizabeth Finn Homes Limited, a company owned by the Charity, responsible for the running of 9 care homes and 11 almshouses.[1]
He currently holds a number of non-executive, advisory, consultant and voluntary posts, including advising on residential property development, Trustee of the Armed Forces Memorial Trust[4] and he is Honorary Colonel of the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "New chief exec appointed by Elizabeth Finn Care". Civil Society. 14 April 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Brigadier Matthew Sykes, The Army - Army comms chief fit for PR challenges". PR Week. 6 December 2002. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
- ↑ "New medal 'The Elizabeth Cross' approved by Queen". ITN. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
- ↑ "Armed Forces Memorial Trust". Open Charities. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
- ↑ "Unpicking Margaret Thatcher's funeral". BBC. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Peter Wilkinson |
Defence Services Secretary 2007–2010 |
Succeeded by David Murray |