
John graduated in Pharmacology from Glasgow University and then joined Marks and Spencer’s as a graduate trainee. He worked in a number of different areas but soon discovered that his real vocation was working with people.
He subsequently moved into the HR function where he progressed to the top of the organisation as Head of HR for the UK Head Offices and International Businesses. During this time he was involved in the full range of HR activities but focussed on organisational structure , reward and pensions and executive succession and development. He retired from M & S in 2010 though he remained a Trustee of their Pension Fund, and has since taken on a number of other non-executive and advisory positions; with Prostate Cancer UK, as an Adviser to the Pension Advisory Service, HR support to Global Action Plan an environmental charity and also as a trustee of Blue Ventures Conservation. John is also a keen tennis player and a plays a mean hand at bridge.