Former British Army Sniper Joshua ‘Rio’ Leach-Aslam to Release Debut Business Memoir
Updated: 6 days ago
Former British Army sniper turned business leader, mentor and speaker Joshua Rio Leach-Aslam is set to release his debut memoir, The Two-Hundred Percenter, in paperback on 1 October 2026.
The book follows Rio Leach-Aslam’s journey from facing a potential prison sentence as a teenager to serving in the British Army, before later building a career in operational leadership, business transformation and mentoring.
Originally from Burton-on-Trent and now based in South Derbyshire, Rio's story spans military service, the transition back into civilian life and his subsequent progression into senior business roles.
From the Courtroom to the British Army
At the age of 15, Rio Leach-Aslam found himself standing in a courtroom facing the possibility of a prison sentence.
Within a matter of years, his life had taken a markedly different direction.
According to the book’s announcement, he went on to become the youngest qualified sniper in British Army history and served in Helmand with the Mercian Regiment. His military career eventually came to an end following a medical discharge in 2015.
Rather than moving directly into senior management following his service, Rio Leach-Aslam began rebuilding his civilian career from a factory floor position. That period would eventually lead him into operational leadership roles where he became involved in improving underperforming teams and businesses.
Building a Career in Business Leadership
The experiences that followed his military career form a significant part of The Two-Hundred Percenter.
Rather than positioning the book purely as a military memoir, Rio Leach-Aslam uses his experiences across the Army, employment and business leadership to explore themes including discipline, resilience, personal responsibility and organisational performance.
He now works as a mentor, speaker and fractional director, supporting individuals and organisations through periods of development and change. Rio has also previously served as a board member of Generation Next at the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce. Alongside his commercial work, he founded Two-Chevrons CIC, an organisation established to support military veterans.
Speaking about the philosophy behind the book, Rio said:
“You don't get to choose the hand you're dealt. But you get to choose what you build with it.”
The Two-Hundred Percenter
The Two-Hundred Percenter documents the progression from Rio Leach-Aslam’s early difficulties through military service and into the challenges of establishing a new career following his discharge.
The book places particular emphasis on the discipline and mindset that Rio says helped him make the transition into leadership and business. Its release also comes as personal experience and founder led storytelling continue to play an increasingly visible role in executive personal branding.
Business leaders are increasingly using books, podcasts, LinkedIn and public speaking not simply as promotional channels, but as platforms through which to establish their professional identity and communicate the experiences behind their approach to leadership.
For Rio Leach-Aslam, the memoir brings several previously separate parts of his career into one story.
Marketing Minute’s Read
What makes The Two-Hundred Percenter particularly relevant from a business and personal branding perspective is the way Rio Leach-Aslam’s professional identity has developed across several very different environments.
Military service, operational leadership, mentoring, public speaking and veteran support all contribute to a clear narrative centred on performance and resilience. For professionals developing their own personal brands, the launch is also an example of how first hand experience can become the foundation for a wider platform encompassing thought leadership, speaking, mentoring and business development.
Rather than presenting professional credibility solely through job titles, Rio is building his positioning around the experiences and principles that have shaped his career.
The Two-Hundred Percenter will be released in paperback on 1 October 2026, with the ebook available for pre-order through twohundredpercenter.com.
