James was co-opted to the Board in February 2025. After leaving school in 1981, he initially worked as a mechanical engineer and in industrial marketing. In 1986, he entered the financial services industry and accumulated extensive financial expertise and experience in leadership and governance. He recently retired as the UK head of a multinational banking group after 37 years of service. Throughout his career he has been passionate about delivering value and strong relationships from serving customers, developing teams and supporting the local community and society with a sharp focus on ethics, purpose, culture, sustainability and resilience in an ever-changing world.