Matthew Francis has spent the last ten years working with global organisations, some of which have been in remote and sometimes hostile locations. The majority of experience he has gained has been in Russia & The Commonwealth of Independent States. This included five years running his own communications practice in Moscow between 2002 and 2007. Primarily Matthew was advising Russian organisations on their overseas development strategies but his links into overseas Embassies, Networking Organisations and Business Schools, meant that many Western brands were drawing on his skills and experience to advise them on their Russian entry strategy. Matthew draws on a wealth of experience having lived and worked in Russia as well as advising Russian companies from the UK. He is a recognised expert on Russian Business & Cultural Affairs as well as the current Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations's International Group in London. He has an MBA from Cass Business School and sits as a Borough Councillor in Rugby, Warwickshire where he now lives.