John gained a degree in Engineering Science at Balliol College, Oxford before joining Mars Ltd. He worked there in a number of divisions, with his final role of Vice-President Operations Europe. After retiring in 1999 he took an MA in Coaching and Mentoring at Oxford Brookes University, and runs a small land development company. In 2008 he was appointed Chairman of Mars Pension Trustees Ltds DB and DC pension schemes, and sits on the Investment Committees of Mars seven European DB schemes.