Founder & Chairperson of The Akabusi Charitable Trust, 4 x 400m Relay World Champion, 3 x European Champion, Olympic Medallist & Former Presenter of Channel 4’s “The Big Breakfast”
Kriss Akabusi’s Biography:
Kriss Akabusi is a former Olympic athlete, broadcaster and leadership speaker best known for his achievements in the 400m hurdles and 4 x 400m relay. A World Champion and three-time European Champion, Kriss won one Silver and two Bronze Olympic medals, alongside a Silver and Bronze at the World Championships and a Gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. He twice broke the British 400m hurdles record, including his historic 47.92-second run at the 1990 European Championships. Appointed MBE for Services to Athletics in 1992, Kriss is celebrated not only for his sporting excellence but for the resilience, discipline and positivity that now define his speaking career.
Kriss began his professional journey in 1975 when he enlisted in the British Army as part of the Royal Corps of Signals, later joining the Army Physical Training Corps in 1981. His decorated military career culminated in the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2, reflecting his leadership and commitment. He launched his international athletics career in 1983 as a 400m specialist before transitioning to the 400m hurdles, where he achieved global recognition. The discipline and mental toughness developed in the Army became central to his athletic success.
Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Kriss established himself as one of Britain’s most accomplished track athletes. He secured World Champion status in the 4 x 400m relay and claimed three European Championship titles, including Gold in 1990. His Olympic achievements include one Silver and two Bronze medals, underscoring his consistency at the highest level of competition. His record-breaking performances and medal success cemented his place in British athletics history.
Following his competitive career, Kriss became a familiar face on British television as Presenter of Channel 4’s ‘The Big Breakfast‘ and Co-Presenter of the BBC’s ‘Record Breakers’. He has also appeared as a commentator on ITV and contributes regularly to national media programmes. As Founder and Chairperson of The Akabusi Charitable Trust and CEO of The Akabusi Company, he now focuses on leadership development, youth empowerment and corporate engagement, continuing to inspire audiences with the mindset that drove his sporting and military achievements.
Why Hire Kriss Akabusi?
Kriss is hired as a speaker for his extraordinary blend of elite sport, military discipline and broadcast experience. As a World Champion and Olympic medallist, he understands high-performance environments and the mindset required to succeed under pressure. His dynamic delivery and infectious enthusiasm translate elite sporting lessons into practical leadership strategies that resonate across industries.
He has worked with major organisations including AutoTrader, Innocent Drinks, Cadbury and Scania, delivering impactful keynote sessions focused on resilience, accountability and teamwork. Kriss brings authenticity, energy and lived experience to every stage, making him a compelling choice for leadership conferences, corporate events and performance-driven programmes.
Kriss Akabusi’s Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key milestones that defineKriss Akabusi’s impressive career:
- 2025 – Hosted the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Awards, leading the ceremony and celebrating excellence in business at the 2025 event.
- 2024 – Delivered a keynote address at the Institute of Financial Operations and Leadership Accounts Payable and P2P Leadership Conference in London.
- 1992 – Broke the British 400m hurdles record and received an Honorary Degree from the University of Southampton.
- 1992 – Awarded an MBE for Services to Athletics in recognition of his sporting achievements.
- 1991 – Became World Champion in the 4 x 400m relay and secured global athletics acclaim.
- 1990 – Won Gold at the European Championships in the 400m hurdles, setting a new British record of 47.92 seconds.
- 1990 – Achieved the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2 in the British Army.
- 1983 – Launched his international athletics career as a 400m specialist.
- 1981 – Joined the Army Physical Training Corps, strengthening his athletic development.
- 1975 – Enlisted in the British Army as part of the Royal Corps of Signals.
Videos
Kriss Akabusi’s Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“Kriss was absolutely fantastic! He was incredibly engaging and enthusiastic and brought so much energy into the room. He was an absolute pleasure to deal with and very professional from start to finish, wanting to find out as much about the company as possible in order to tailor his talk to the industry and make sure it resonated with the audience. I would definitely recommend him to others – he helped make our event such a success, thank you Champions and thank you Kriss!” – Efficio Ltd
“Kriss was a great success – we had great feedback from his session. It was great that he stayed around with us and people had a chance to speak to most on a one-to-one basis.” – Sherwin Williams
“Please pass on our thanks to Kriss – he has been OUTSTANDING. Everyone was absolutely mesmerized by his talk, his charm and humour and walked away inspired and full of motivation – exactly what we wanted. We loved working with him!” – Beiersdorf
“Kriss recently attended a leadership offsite after previously attending our Sales and Service Conference (6 weeks prior to the offsite) where he was very engaging and inspirational to over 300 attendees. With this in mind, we engaged him to work with our emerging leadership team of 30 people. Once again he was exceptionally impressive, engaging a room of 30 people for over 5 hours (and ran over by 2 hours!) – with his stories, practical advice and highly energetic approach. Huge thanks for taking this event to another level and helping our leadership team on the next step of the journey.” – Sharon, UK Sales Director, AutoTrader
“Fantastic session with Kriss – very engaging and high energy. Kriss took the time beforehand to really understand our company and our values and so his messages on the day were very aligned. The delegates loved the surprise and many commented on the value Kriss added to the overall conference.” – Zoe, Learning & Development Specialiser, KFC
“We invited Kriss to present at our annual Global Conference and we couldn’t have asked for anything better. He was funny, engaging, entertaining, inspirational and hugely relevant. The hairs on the back of our hands standing on end with his electricity! Kriss’s tone and content were absolutely perfect and he tailored his act beautifully to fit with our key conference theme and messages. People will be talking about Kriss Akabusi at our conference for years to come! Thanks for helping us deliver the best Speedo Conference ever. Boom! Boom! Boom!” – Finlay, Business Development Manager, Speedo
Speaking Topics
Kriss Akabusi’s Official Keynote Topics:
- Understand the Importance of Teamwork & How to Achieve It
- Be Flexible & Manage Change Proactively
- Use Creativity & Innovation to Achieve Outstanding Results
- Identify & Overcome Hurdles
- Take Ownership of & Commit to Goals
- Focus on Goal-Setting for Teams & Individuals
- Set a Vision
How Much Does Kriss Akabusi Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Kriss Akabusi?
The cost of hiring Kriss Akabusi depends on your event format, audience size, location and duration. For a tailored quote and expert guidance, please contact a London Keynote Speakers Agency booking agent.