John is the Chief Executive Officer of EIP and has overall responsibility for the management of the firm. He has considerable commercial experience in the IP profession, and in management positions for a range of companies.
Having joined EIP in 2009 as a non-executive director, John has played a significant part in the continued growth and success of EIP over the last few years.
John is an experienced entrepreneur who has built and sold a number of businesses, including a patent and trademark company, which he co-founded in 2001 and built into a thriving practice before selling his shareholding in 2008. John originally trained as a teacher before founding a seafood company in 1980 which evolved into a successful business selling a range of innovative chilled products to all the major supermarket chains in the UK. He has first-hand experience of acquisitions and disposals, and raising finance for businesses including a VC-funded MBO of a food division from a Plc.
Experience
- Non-executive Director of two companies, an Intellectual Property services company based in London and a furniture designer, manufacturer, importer and wholesaler based in Norfolk (2008-2013).
- Intellectual Property Institute Council member 2006-08.
- Government appointee to Eastern Sea Fisheries Management Committee 1994-2000.
- Chairman Cromer Town Football Club 1995-99.
Education and qualifications
-
1984 — 1986
Part-time degree studies in Philosophy with Economics, University of East Anglia -
1971 — 1974
Teaching Certificate , Sunderland College of Education
Career history
- 2014 — present
Chief Executive Officer, EIP - 2009 — 2014
Non-Executive Director, EIP - 2006 — 2008
Managing Director, ip21 Ltd - 2000 — 2006
Founder and Commercial Director, ip21 Ltd - 1985 — 1999
Founder , Williams of West Runton, interior designers - 1980 — 2000
Founder, The Cromer Crab Company