John is an experienced senior finance professional with extensive experience in the UK charity sector, particularly arts and heritage attractions, and cultural venues.
Following an early career spanning insurance, IT and consulting John took up a role at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and stayed for over ten years, latterly as interim finance director. He designed and led a financial management regime which delivered ten consecutive surplus-generating financial years and embedded a planning methodology to safeguard continuing financial sustainability. He was also instrumental in presenting a successful case for VAT exempt status which resulted in a £5m rebate and ongoing additional net income of £2.5m per annum.
John was seconded from the ROH in 2011 to head up finance for the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival, part of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Cultural Olympiad was the UK’s biggest ever arts festival (£118m budget) involving over 80 directly funded delivery partners as well as a wide range of public and private funders.
John has worked as a freelance consultant since 2013, both in collaboration with consulting organisations as well as with a wide portfolio of direct clients. Direct clients have included Sadler’s Wells, Edinburgh International Festival and Hull UK City of Culture. John’s specialisms include business planning, building business cases (including Treasury Green Book) and strategic finance support.
John has a BA in English Literature and an MA in American Literature, both from Durham University.