Why Jon

About Me

I’m Jon Whitworth, a professional commercial mediator accredited with the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) in London. I specialise in guiding disputing parties to a satisfactory resolution.

I have enjoyed an unusual professional career in conflict resolution and high-stakes decision making. I spent twenty years at Control Risks Group, the world’s leading crisis management consultancy, advising clients globally in the worst of situations such as kidnaps, extortions and other life-threatening scenarios. Before joining Control Risks, I had front-line operational roles in the Ministry of Defence and the British Army. I’ve also worked as a scaffolder, a deep-sea diver and on a fishing trawler.

Cumulatively, these experiences have made me a truly grounded and calm individual. I bring exceptional humility to my work, born of the extraordinary and stressful situations I have worked in and navigated successfully. I’m able to bring all of this ability to identify and focus on the relevant issues, guiding and coaching people to a resolution irrespective of the obstacles faced. I have worked all around the world, across a diverse spectrum of cultures and in demanding, often hostile environments.

My ability to mediate a wide range of commercial disputes is further enhanced with a solid business background. I spent ten years successfully developing and running multi million pound businesses for Control Risks throughout the Europe, Middle Eastern and African regions.

I hold an MSc in Security and Risk Management from Leicester University and was educated at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. I’m also an accredited Workplace Mediator – CEDR 2021.

My mediation practice operates under the highest professional standards, follows the European Code of Conduct For Mediators and has all the required professional insurances.

Career History Highlights

Control Risks

Response Consultant 2010 – 2020

Rapid deployment globally to assist clients in the resolution situations of extreme crisis
such as kidnaps for ransom and extortions. Deployed in excess of 50 occasions on
cases with durations from a few days to 18 months.

Progressive roles leading to Director Crisis and Security Consulting EMEA
Region 2000-2010

Strategic and operational restructuring of two London business units, creating one of
the largest in the Group with an annual turnover in the region of £28m. Member of the
regional EXCO. Significant travel and business development throughout the region.

Leadership of 65 London-based staff, 3 offices in Africa (Nigeria, Algeria and Kenya),
80 local national employees and 130 deployed consultants in medium- and high-risk
environments, and the UK-based Training School.

Remote and direct crisis management and dealing with a wide spectrum of challenging
issues in complex commercial and hostile environments.

Civil Service, Ministry of Defence 1994 – 2000

Operational officer and investigative team leader.

Qualifications

Accredited Commercial Mediator – CEDR April 2020

ADR Group Accredited Online Mediator – ADR September 2020

Diploma in Stress Management and Resilience Building (Dip.SMRB)

Accredited Workplace Mediator – CEDR 2021

MSc Security and Risk Management (Leicester University)

RMAS Sandhurst – Standard Commissioning Course (1985)

"I highly recommend Jon’s skills as a mediator. I have known him for close to twenty years and have seen him unravel the most complex of problems all around the world often under considerable pressure to get a result. He has the patience, perseverance and empathy needed to help people find a way through to a negotiated settlement. He instils confidence and trustworthiness along with an ability to help the most antagonistic of parties to find a sensible way forward and a sense of closure to some truly vexed situations. He has a lifetime of extraordinary experiences that means nothing is going to surprise or faze him."

Richard Fenning

Manchester Square Partners. Former CEO, Control Risks.

"I have known Jon for 10 years in his former role as a response consultant and always had the greatest respect for his insight, integrity and calm presence in the most challenging of circumstance. He is certainly the person I would want advising me in a complex and difficult mediation situation."

Dr. Lesley Perman-Kerr B.Sc(Hons) Ph.D.C.Psychol AFBPsS

Consultant Counselling Psychologist.

"I was not sure at the start to be honest as we were so far away from a compromise that both parties would be happy with. I listened to Jon's advice as we slowly negotiated getting closer and closer. We agreed to a settlement that was acceptable to both parties. While I did not get exactly what I wanted it was a compromise and better and less time consuming than going to court which was my alternative option. Trust in the process and do take Jon's advice as subtle things do make a difference."

CW Builder

"An excellent experience with the mediation conducted by Mr. Whitworth, in a building dispute that had been unresolved for 18 months but quickly settled following his involvement. I will happily use his services again and highly recommend."

Nicholas Price
Solicitor-Advocate (Civil)

"I would highly recommend Jon Whitworth as a Mediator. Jon’s calm, meticulous, professional and practical approach to my client’s dispute was instrumental in achieving a settlement between the parties. I would not hesitate to recommend Jon Whitworth mediation services to anyone who has a dispute and is keen to reach resolution before court proceedings are issued."

Martha Nicholaou
Litigation Executive