Leon V. Emirali
Leon V. Emirali | |
|---|---|
 Leon V. Emirali in 2024 | |
| Chief of Staff | |
| In office June 2019 – July 2020 | |
| Minister | Steve Barclay |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 4, 1991 |
| Spouse | Dr Liza Emirali (married 2021-present) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Coventry University |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Website | leonemirali |
Leon Victor Emirali (born January 4, 1991[1]) is a British entrepreneur and former political adviser. Between 2019-2020, Emirali was Chief of Staff to British cabinet minister, Steve Barclay during the Johnson premiership.[2] Since 2020, Emirali has founded businesses operating in the artificial intelligence, military, and aerospace sectors.[3][4]
Early life and education
[edit]Emirali was born and raised in Bedfordshire. He attended Robert Bloomfield Middle School and Harlington Upper School. In 2012, Emirali graduated from Coventry University.[1]
Emirali's grandparents were immigrants to the United Kingdom from Ukraine and Cyprus.[1]
Career
[edit]Lobbying
Emirali began his career as a lobbyist at a Westminster-based consultancy.[1]
Political adviser
Emirali was an external consultant to Prime Minister Theresa May on digital matters.[1] In 2018, he encouraged the Prime Minister to deploy generative artificial intelligence to communicate with voters.[5]
Emirali was appointed Chief of Staff to Steve Barclay, when Barclay served as Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and Chief Secretary to the Treasury under Boris Johnson's premiership.[2]
In 2024, Emirali founded a consultancy for businesses engaging with political issues.[6]
Start-ups
In 2016, Emirali co-founded a digital marketing agency. In 2017, Emirali was named in PR Week's 30 under 30 list.[7] Emirali sold the business in 2019.[1]
In 2023, Emirali founded a drone charging network. In 2024, Emirali announced a partnership with West Northamptonshire Council to install charging infrastructure on council-owned property.[3]
Emirali launched an artificial intelligence company, programming AI simulations of politicians for corporate, diplomatic, and military applications.[4][8] The company's platform has been used by diplomats from Slovenia and Spain. The business is working on developing AI simulations of Kim Jong-Un and Vladimir Putin for use by NATO allies.[9]
Media
Emirali provides commentary on politics and public affairs to BBC News and Sky News. He has written columns for The Times, The Telegraph, City AM and The i.[1]
Personal views
[edit]Emirali has called for the UK to move to a universal insurance-based healthcare model and argued in favour of privatisation of the National Health Service at a Cambridge Union debate.[2]
Emirali supports a phased ban on vaping.[1]
Emirali has stated drone delivery could be commonplace in the United Kingdom by 2027.[3]
Emirali stood as an election candidate for the Conservative Party.[5]
Personal life
[edit]Emirali lives in Bedfordshire with his wife, who is a University of Cambridge scientist. The couple has a daughter.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Profile: Who is Leon Emirali?". Politics.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ a b c Wearmouth, Rachel (2023-08-16). "Former aide to Health Secretary called for the "full privatisation" of the NHS". New Statesman. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ a b c "Drone charging start-up partners with West Northants Council". BBC News. 2024-12-11. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ a b Boyd, Raphael (2025-05-18). "If Keir Starmer is not robotic enough for you, his AI twin is ready for your questions". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ a b McDonald, Karl (2018-01-18). "Tory PR wonk: We need to make a literal Theresa May bot". The i Paper. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ "Ex-Tory aide launches consultancy to protect brands from political backlash". www.prweek.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ^ "PRWeek UK 30 Under 30 2017: Leon Emirali, Crest". www.prweek.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ Leigh, Dana (2025-01-15). "Meet Leon Emirali, CEO and Founder of Nostrada.ai, An AI Platform For Political Forecasting". TechRound. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ Barnes, Joe (2025-05-20). "European diplomats used Starmer chatbot to predict PM's next moves". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-05-29.