John joined Shirlaws in 2006 to help develop businesses in East Anglia. He began his career as a training manager and spent seven years with Ernst & Young in Cambridge leading the team that offered value-added services to clients. His industry exposure includes manufacturing, food & drink, automotive, high-tech and pharmaceutical.  He is also a Director of our UK business.

John left Ernst & Young in 2003 to join Geest plc. At Geest he helped re-design the operational review methodology, before designing and implementing reporting systems for a group-wide profit-improvement initiative. He designed and implemented reporting systems for the group's procurement function, which was responsible for over £200m of spend across more than 20 sites. He also project-managed multi-site business integration and IT development projects. In addition to this he was involved in training, negotiations with suppliers, financial due-diligence on mergers and acquisitions, trouble-shooting both in the UK and in France, and was Financial Controller for a £35m business supplying fresh prepared food to Tesco and Marks & Spencer.

John is a qualified Chartered Accountant and member of the ICAEW. He has a degree in European Finance & Accounting, as well as a Diploma in Business Management from Normandy Business School (ESC Normandie), where he learned to speak French.

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