Sanders, Patrick - Chief of the General Staff, Ministry of Defence - ACOBA advice
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-06)

Advice to General Sir Patrick Sanders KCB CBE DSO ADC OBE, former Chief of the General Staff, Ministry of Defence, on business appointments after leaving Crown service.

General Sir Patrick left his role at the Ministry of Defence in December 2024.

Senior Strategic Advisor, Banco Santander

General Sir Patrick sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with Banco Santander. The letter (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68dcffffef1c2f72bc1e4ca5/Advice_Letter_-_Patrick_Sanders__Senior_Strategic_Adviser__Banco_Santander.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in August 2025; and the appointment was taken up in October 2025. An accessible version of the letter is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/sanders-patrick-chief-of-the-general-staff-ministry-of-defence-acoba-advice/advice-letter-patrick-sanders-senior-strategic-adviser-banco-santander?preview=8877062)

Member of the Board of Directors, Maritime Humanitarian Aid Foundation

General Sir Patrick sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with Maritime Humanitarian Aid Foundation. The letter (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6862ad851c735341c2111b20/Advice_Letter-_Patrick_Sanders__Member_of_the_Board_of_Directors__Maritime_Humanitarian_Aid_Foundation.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in June 2025; and the appointment was taken up in July 2025. An accessible version of the letter is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/sanders-patrick-chief-of-the-general-staff-ministry-of-defence-acoba-advice/advice-letter-patrick-sanders-member-of-the-board-of-directors-maritime-humanitarian-aid-foundation?preview=8715438)

Co-Host and Presenter, The General and The Journalist Podcast

General Sir Patrick sought the Committee’s advice about establishing a podcast titled ‘The General and The Journalist’ with The Times. The letter (https://draft-assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/682db5f27fb7a7d9cd775150/ACOBA_Advice_-_Patrick_Sanders__The_General_and_The_Journalist.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in May 2025; and the appointment was taken up later that month. An accessible version of the letter is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/sanders-patrick-chief-of-the-general-staff-ministry-of-defence-acoba-advice/advice-letter-patrick-sanders-co-host-and-presenter-the-general-and-the-journalist?preview=8644458)

Non Executive Chairman, Herminius Holdings Limited

General Sir Patrick sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with Herminius Holdings. The letter (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/682ca2b45ba51be7c0f4534b/ACOBA_Advice_-_Patrick_Sanders_-_Herminius_Holdings_Limited.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in May 2025; and the appointment was taken up later that month. An accessible version of the letter is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/sanders-patrick-chief-of-the-general-staff-ministry-of-defence-acoba-advice/advice-letter-patrick-sanders-non-executive-chairman-herminius-holdings-limited?preview=8627192)

Member of the Malam Jabba International Advisory Board, Samsons Group

General Sir Patrick sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with Samsons Group. The letter (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/680a63dc9b25e1a97c9d849d/Advice_Letter_-_Patrick_Sanders__Member_of_the_Malam_Jabba_International_Advisory_Board__Samsons_Group.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in April 2025; and the appointment was taken up in May 2025. An accessible version of the letter is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/sanders-patrick-chief-of-the-general-staff-ministry-of-defence-acoba-advice/advice-letter-patrick-sanders-member-of-the-malam-jabba-international-advisory-board-samsons-group?preview=8595616)