John has been working for almost forty years in the brand and design industry, leading a number of marketing, brand and design consultancies in the UK and Internationally.

Most recently he has led the UK Design Council through a period of change and moved on from that role in 2016 after four years as CEO.

Over the last fifteen years he has been actively committed to the development of the design industry, serving as President of the DBA (Design Business Association) for three years as well as being involved in various ways with the broader design community.

In 2017 he co-founded The British Design Fund, a venture capital fund supporting well-designed British product start-ups. His other commitments include sitting on the Board of Falmouth University, as well as Trustee roles at 1418Now, the WW1 arts charity and MOBIE, who he is representing at London Build.

John has also spent time, in the last two years, working in China and is currently a Guest Professor at both the School of Art, Zhejiang University of Technology and the School of Design and Innovation, Tongji University in Shanghai.