top of page

 About Me 

Biography

A BRIEF SUMMARY

I was City Editor and Executive Editor at the Evening Standard and Independent titles and before that City Editor at the Sunday Times.

I’ve also written for the Daily Mail, The Times, The Independent, The Scotsman, Business AM, the Financial Times and Reuters. For four years I was the Sunday Telegraph's Questor investment columnist.

I have covered the UK economy, the banking crisis, multibillion-pound takeover battles, disruptive technologies and the personalities that shape global business.

I’ve produced hundreds of in-depth interviews featuring leaders of the Bank of England, Barclays, Tesco, Virgin, General Electric, Nestlé, Huawei, Anglo American and WeWork among others.

I studied at the University of St Andrews and City University in London. I am married with one daughter and enjoy running, swimming and kayaking in my spare time.

Podcasting

AUDIO STORIES

My podcast Leading with James Ashton brings together people from the top of very different organisations in the worlds of business, charity, the arts and beyond to discuss their take on leading vital causes, famous brand names and multi-billion-pound enterprises.

 

Each time, two guests swap stories of success and failure, the skills they have picked up, the challenges they face every day and the advice they offer to others. More than 50 CEOs have appeared so far, including bosses from O2, Deloitte and Great Ormond Street Hospital. More details at Leadingpod.com.

 

You can also find all podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Other Roles

WHAT ELSE I GET UP TO 

With my wife Viveka and some great supporters and trustees I run Oscar's Book Prize, a nationwide pre-school book award in honour of my son Oscar who died in 2012.

I am a non-executive director of the FTSE250 investment trust Finsbury Growth & Income.

Contact
bottom of page