Richard Hills

Partner at Grant Thornton - UAE | Head of Risk Innovation & Digital Forensics | Risk Transformation | Digital Solutions | Compliance & Forensic Advisory

37.4 yrs experienceInformation Technology & Services

Mar 2026Added yesterday

The move

MoveK2 Integrity → Grant Thornton - UAE

TitleSenior Managing Director, Head of UAE Office → Partner

LocationAbu Dhabi → Dubai

Career arcRecent arrival

Cross-border moveYes · Abu Dhabi → United Arab Emirates

Native languageAfrikaans, English

Years in UAE10.6

Total experience37.4 years

Grant Thornton - UAE headcount501-1,000 employees

Grant Thornton - UAE industryProfessional Services

Grant Thornton - UAE HQDubai

Grant Thornton - UAE founded1966

Grant Thornton - UAE typePartnership

Career arc

PartnerMar 2026 — Present
Grant Thornton - UAE· Dubai, United Arab Emirates· Full-time
Senior Managing Director, Head of UAE OfficeNov 2023 — Feb 2026
K2 Integrity· Abu Dhabi· Full-time
Managing DirectorAug 2022 — Nov 2023
K2 Integrity· Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates· Full-time
EMEA Compliance Head of Risk AssessmentSep 2020 — Aug 2022
HSBC· Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Regional Head of Research & Analytics, Financial Crime Threat Mitigation, MENATDec 2018 — Sep 2020
HSBC· Dubai· Full-time
Head Applied Analytics, Analytics & Analysis, Financial Crime Threat Mitigation, MENATOct 2017 — Dec 2018
HSBC· Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Senior Manager Analytics & OptimizationSep 2015 — Sep 2017
HSBC· Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Analytics LeadJan 2012 — Aug 2015
FFinancial Intelligence Centre· Pretoria Area, South Africa
Lead Investigator in the Serious Economic Offences UnitJul 2004 — Dec 2011
SSouth African Police Service (SAPS)· Pretoria Area, South Africa
Police OfficerAug 1988 — Jul 2004
SSouth African Police Service (SAPS)

Education

University of Liverpool
Master of Sciences · Web Sciences and Big DataPresent
University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria
Certificate · Fraud ExaminationPresent
University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria
Certificate · Anti Money Laundering Compliance, Prevention and Detection of Money LaunderingPresent
University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria
Certificate · Investigation of Cyber CrimePresent
MIT Sloan School of Management
Executive Certificate · Strategy and InnovationPresent
Cornell University
· Digital Business Leadership ProgramPresent

Languages

Top skills

Credit Card Fraud PreventionAI GovernanceGlobal Regulatory ComplianceSocial InfluenceFraudDigital Leadership

About

With over three decades of experience across law enforcement, financial intelligence, and global banking, I am a Partner at Grant Thornton - UAE, leading Risk Innovation, Digital Forensics, and Financial Crime Transformation. My work focuses on redefining how organisations approach risk in an increasingly digital, data-driven, and complex global environment.I operate at the intersection of financial crime, technology, and strategy, helping institutions move beyond traditional compliance models toward intelligent, adaptive, and technology-enabled risk frameworks. This includes the design and deployment of advanced analytics, AI-driven monitoring, and scalable digital solutions that enhance both regulatory effectiveness and business performance.I am particularly focused on the evolution of f

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