Richard H. Griffiths

Richard H. Griffiths

Griffiths speaks to government of Montenegro, 2015
Born Richard Howard Griffiths
7 July 1975
Kempton Park, Republic of South Africa
Residence Washington, D.C., U.S./ London, UK.
Occupation International Advisor, Advisor to Heads of State and Royalty
Years active 1999-present
Children Adrian Griffiths
Parent(s) Ann Griffiths, Graham Griffiths
Relatives Mark Steven Griffiths

Richard H. Griffiths (born 7 July 1975 in Kempton Park, Republic of South Africa) is an entrepreneur and international advisor. He is a holder of several patents, was one of the pioneers of the electric vehicle industry, and has most recently worked in the fields of nation branding and Public diplomacy.[1]

Family

Richard H. Griffiths is the second son of Ann and Graham Griffiths of Cheshire, England and Brother to Mark Steven Griffiths, a Canadian Forces specialist. He also has a son, Adrian Griffiths.

Early career

Patents and inventions 1999–2003

On 10 May 2002, Mr. Griffiths developed a software application for use in cinemas. The application used in cinema computer kiosks in order to gain instant post-movie opinions of cinema-goers: patent. Following the development of this properitary system, Griffiths founded Filmfly, a company which sought to place integrated touchscreen kiosks within movie theatres. The company forged alliances with both major Hollywood film studos as well as cinemas. The company was sold through a public offering on the NASDAQ.[2]

Following the sale, the underlying technology became a user portal called moviefly.

On 1 August 2002, Griffiths registered another patent for a self-regulating water supply system for pets: patent. The low tech application was adapted for use into many other market segments including applications for third world water development program. [3]

Electric Vehicles: 2000–2010

Richard H. Griffiths later focused on the development of the electric car industry, working as a founder and pioneer in the early stage lithium-electric market.[4]

Space Act Agreement Recipient

He created relationships with NASA,working with their alternative energy fleet. In 2000, Mr. Griffiths was awarded a Congressional Space Act Agreement for the development of electric cars within NASA and at Kennedy Space Center.[5][6] Griffiths, working with several manufactures, developed electric drive systems for the following vehicles:

State of New York Legislation, Renewable Energy Advocate and Lobbyist

In 2005, Griffiths was involved in the creation of legislation allowing all electric vehicles to be used as New York city taxis.[7][8] The legislation was accepted in accordance with section 1043(e) of the Charter of the City of New York following a hearing on 8 September 2005.[9] The project was the first of its kind and paved the way for further development of electric vehicles for fleet and public transport.

Griffiths continues to work in the alternative energy vehicle industry and as of 2010 was working on projects with NASA and the United States federal government. [10] [11] [12] [13]

Work with Post Gaddafi Libya

Mr. Griffiths became involved in the Libyan revolution early on by working with Libyan National Transitional Council Special Envoy to facilitate Presidential meetings in Latin American Nations. The purpose of these meetings was to secure official recognition of the National Transitional Council as the sole legitimate representatives of the Libyan people.

On 14 June 2011, President of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli officially recognized the NTC as, "the legitimate representative of the Libyan people." In doing so, Panama became the 14th nation worldwide to recognize the NTC in this manner.[14]

On 25 August 2011, President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos met with Special Envoy's at the Nariño Palace (Casa de Nariño).[15] On the same day, Colombia became the 54th nation worldwide to recognize the NTC.[14]

Work with The U.S. Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM Libya))

In Late 2011, following the end of conflict and the beginning of the rebuilding of the new Libya, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was established. Mr Griffiths was instrumental in its founding and was subsequently appointed as the Vice President of the Chamber on 16 January 2012.[1][16][17][18] [19] [20] [21]

Mr. Griffiths remained in Libya and supported US-Libya relations through economic and commercial ties. Mr. Griffiths presented the keynote speech at the Libya summit and gave a memorial in Tripoli, Libya for Ambassador Christopher Stevens and the fallen US Embassy workers killed on September 11, 2012[22]

Mr. Griffiths remained as Executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce until 2014 when he was evacuated during hostile actions in Tripoli. [23][24][25][26][27]

Sovereign Advisory

Latin America

In recent years, Mr. Griffiths has worked in an advisory role to Governments and industries in Latin America. He developed projects and programs in Mexico (Mexico City for the federal government and also in the Yucatán Peninsula spending several years in Guatemala working on social projects with Peace Corps and several NGOs. During this period, he worked to link projects with the United States Government and USAID.

Griffiths began working in Colombia in mid 2008 and developed programs to use leading Colombian industries as re-branding vehicles for the nation. He worked closely with the Association of Colombian Flower Exporters (Asocolflores) to create high profile events linking Colombia with flowers.

R Griffiths with HE President Museveni of Uganda and HRH Queen Best of Torro, Uganda

[28] On 17 November 2008 he executed the Colombia Pride Day event in New York City; 100 Colombian-Americans handed out over 100,000 Colombian roses on the street of Manhattan to New Yorkers with the message 'from Colombia with love'. The program gained media coverage from various major outlets including the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal.

Africa

King Oyo at his coronation in 2010

Mr. Griffiths serves as an advisor to Governments globally including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda. His focus is on international affairs and development of stronger foreign relations programs between African nations and West.

African Royal Families

Mr Griffiths serves as a personal advisor to African Heads of State and Kingdoms. Most notably Mr Griffiths served as a senior policy advisor to the King of Torro, Uganda who is the youngest King in the world.[29]

Squire Patton Boggs

Mr Griffiths joined the international lobby powerhouse Patton Boggs as an international policy advisor. Mr Griffiths is serving the interests of sovereign nations in a variety of issues ranging from public policy, commercial development, diplomatic protocol, nation branding and image enhancement.[30] [31] [32]

In 2015, Patton Boggs merged with Squire Sanders to form Squire Patton Boggs.

Notable Legal and Sovereign defense matters

Mr. Griffiths advised the Libyan Government on a sovereign immunity case related to the Presidential aircraft 5A-01. The case was argued by Squire Patton Boggs and focused on State immunity for the Government of Libya.[33]

Mr. Griffiths was also part of a high level Squire Patton Boggs team retained by the Government of St.Lucia to support a claim of immunity by one of the St. Lucian Government's diplomats in the United Kingdom.[34]

References

  1. 1 2 https://festefan.mysite.syr.edu/speakers.html
  2. ↑ "US Securities & Exchange Commission, Annual Report". 31 December 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  3. ↑ "Richard Griffiths, President of Filmfly Entertainment". FW Magazine. 2002. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  4. ↑ Gordon, Jacob. "Hybrid Technologies: This company takes cars people already love and electrifies them.". MSN Autos. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  5. ↑ Moore, Bill (7 March 2007). "Hybrid Technologies: A Smart EV Future". EV World. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  6. ↑ "NONREIMBURSABLE SPACE ACT AGREEMENT". Contracts Onecle. 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  7. ↑ Fraser, Charles (August 2005). "NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON PROPOSED RULES NEW YORK CITY TAXI AND LIMOUSINE COMMISSION". New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission Public Meeting" (PDF). New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission. September 2005. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  9. ↑ "Notice of Final Publication" (PDF). New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission. 8 September 2005. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  10. ↑ "Lithium Battery Power Delivers Electric Vehicles to Market". NASA Spinoff. 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  11. ↑ Syler, Rene (18 July 2006). "Electric Smart Cars". CBS News. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  12. ↑ Palmeri, Christopher (6 April 2006). "Meet the 200-mph Electric Car". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  13. ↑ Kurczewski, Nick (6 April 2006). "An Electric Too-Cool sports Car Test". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  14. 1 2 Wikipedia page: International recognition of the national transitional council
  15. ↑ El Mundo’ coverage Basit Igtet’s lobbying mission to Colombia
  16. ↑ PR Newswire (16 January 2012). "U.S.- Chamber of Commerce Announces Appointment of Richard H Griffiths as Vice President, Director of International Affairs". Online News Today. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  17. ↑ Ruth, Lisa (3 February 2012). "Libya: U.S. Companies Weighing Opportunities Against Instability". Langley Intelligence report. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  18. ↑ http://www.thedailystar.net/forum/2009/august/nation.htm
  19. ↑ http://www.articlesbase.com/leadership-articles/hollywood-and-colombian-flowers-pink-intuition-could-be-the-rose-we-all-come-to-know-thanks-to-julia-roberts- 1849731.html
  20. ↑ http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-19867186.html
  21. ↑ http://bogotafreeplanet.com/index.php/article/6310
  22. ↑ .http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-19587068
  23. ↑ https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/legacy/international/files/The%20US%20Chamber%20Partners%20with%20AmCham%20Libya%20to%20Expand%20Commercial%20Investment%20in%20Libya.pdf
  24. ↑ http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2013/08/06/u-s-chamber-in-libya-implements-anti-corruption-requirements/
  25. ↑ https://www.libyaherald.com/2012/11/20/its-all-about-transformation-and-stability-the-libya-summit-kicks-off-on-a-high-note/
  26. ↑ http://www.dailyenergyreport.com/thelibyasummit-one-of-the-largest-business-events-in-libya-kicks-off-on-a-high-notetransformation-and-stability-beckon-libya/
  27. ↑ http://venturesafrica.com/building-economy-post-qaddafi-libya/
  28. ↑ "Colombia uses flowers to improve its image". Nation Branding. January 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  29. ↑ http://fridaymagazine.ae/features/people/royal-but-real-1.1433510
  30. ↑ http://www.africaintelligence.com/MCE/businessmen/2015/09/24/patton-boggs-lands-recruit-from-amcham,108005766-BRC
  31. ↑ http://www.squirepattonboggs.com/news/2013/09/patton-boggs-american-chamber-of-commerce-libya-
  32. ↑ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/patton-boggs-american-chamber-of-commerce-libya-to-host-seminar-on-investing-in-libya-225526872.html
  33. ↑ http://english.libyanembassy.org/?p=5820 http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/business/business_news/56874/new_claims_on_libyan_vip_jets_in_malta#.VsDIs1VVhBc
  34. ↑ http://gosl-uat.www.inkositech.com/news/statement-on-dr-walid-juffali
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