John Ayton Explained
John Ayton MBE (born 1962/1963), is a British businessman and investor in the luxury goods industry,[2] and the co-founder of Links of London and Annoushka, an English jewellery brand founded in 2009.[3]
Early life
Ayton was educated at Oundle School and graduated in modern history from Oxford University in 1983.
Career
After university, Ayton worked in corporate law in London and Hong Kong.
Leaving the legal profession in 1995, he was on the advisory board of Halston Borghese Inc, a US-based cosmetics company, responsible for restructuring their Japanese and German operations.[4]
In 1990, together with his wife, jewellery designer Annoushka Ducas, Ayton co-founded Links of London, a jewellery brand with sales of over £50m. In July 2006, they sold the company to Folli Follie SA.[5] In October 2007, Ayton stepped down from the company.[4]
In July 2009, Ayton and Ducas launched English jewellery brand Annoushka Jewellery.[5]
Investment and mentoring
Ayton has invested at the earliest stage in emerging luxury brands including Bremont Watch Company,[4] Orlebar Brown,[6] Mr Hare,[7] Boticca.com,[8] and Grind & Co.[9]
He also acts as a mentor and advisor to the founders, and is chairman at both Bremont[10] and Mr Hare.[7]
Ayton was the founder of Walpole Brands of Tomorrow and its chair and a director until 2014. Since 2007, he has been mentoring and supporting British emerging talent within the luxury goods industry.[4]
Other
Ayton and wife Ducas were ambassadors for Team 2012, the campaign to support British athletes in their quest for medal success in the London Olympics. The campaign raised over £18 million.[11]
Honours
In the 2012 New Years Honours List, Ayton was awarded an MBE for his services to the UK jewellery industry.[12]
Personal life
Ayton and Ducas live in a Georgian cottage in Pimlico, London, since 2007, having previously lived in Notting Hill.[1] They also have a seaside house in Bosham, West Sussex.[13] They have four children.[13]
Notes and References
- News: Stockley . Phillippa . Charmed:inside the home of Links of London founder Annoushka Ducas - a Pimlico cottage remodelled into a Georgian jewel . 17 January 2020 . Evening Standard . 1 November 2017 . 14 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200314193230/https://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/luxury/interiors/inside-the-home-of-links-of-london-founder-annoushka-ducas-a-pimlico-cottage-remodelled-into-a-a115181.html . live .
- Web site: John Ayton MBE. https://web.archive.org/web/20130813100656/http://thewalpole.co.uk/node/71#. 13 August 2013. dead. 29 August 2013. dmy-all.
- Web site: Annoushka Ducas visits Manchester’s to launch new collection into Harvey Nichols.. Doyle. Emma. 11 July 2011. Drapers. en. 2019-07-15. 15 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190715235811/https://www.drapersonline.com/annoushka-ducas-visits-manchesters-to-launch-new-collection-into-harvey-nichols/5027256.blog. live.
- Web site: John Ayton – Links of London. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006113822/http://tellseries.com/ai1ec_event/john-ayton-links-of-london/?instance_id#. 6 October 2014. dead. 29 August 2013. dmy-all.
- Web site: Annoushka Ducas and John Ayton awarded MBEs. Doherty. Kate. 3 January 2012. Retail Jeweller. en. 2019-07-15. 15 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190715235814/https://www.retail-jeweller.com/annoushka-ducas-and-john-ayton-awarded-mbes/5032302.article. live.
- Web site: Consumer-focussed Piper Private Equity tries on Orlebar Brown for size . Growthbusiness.co.uk . 2013-08-06 . 2017-12-27 . 25 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130825233657/http://www.growthbusiness.co.uk/news-and-market-deals/fundraising-deals/2389033/consumerfocussed-piper-private-equity-tries-on-orlebar-brown-for-size.thtml . live .
- Web site: Hurley . James . Mr Hare backed by Links of London founder . Telegraph . 2017-12-27 . 28 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171228054057/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/9875007/Mr-Hare-backed-by-Links-of-London-founder.html . live .
- Web site: John Ayton named as backer for Boticca.com. Corder. Rob. 16 May 2011. Professional Jeweller. https://web.archive.org/web/20140419115155/http://www.professionaljeweller.com/article-9402-john-ayton-named-as-backer-for-boticcacom/#. 19 April 2014. dead. 29 August 2013. dmy-all.
- Web site: Entrepreneurs: The London coffee chain blending cool and high quality. 2016-03-14. Evening Standard. en. 2019-02-26. 27 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190227062407/https://www.standard.co.uk/business/entrepreneurs-london-coffee-chain-grind-co-on-perfecting-its-blend-of-cool-and-high-quality-a3202881.html. live.
- Web site: Bremont Boutique Launch Party, Mayfair 17th July 2012. Bremont Watch Company. en. 2019-07-15. 15 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190715235813/https://www.bremont.com/pages/bremont-boutique-launch-party-mayfair-17th-july-2012. live.
- Web site: John Ayton to carry Olympic torch. https://web.archive.org/web/20130331121012/http://www.annoushka-jewellery.com/blog/travel/john-ayton-to-carry-olympic-torch/#. 31 March 2013. dead. 29 August 2013. dmy-all.
- Web site: Annoushka Ducas and John Ayton accept MBEs from Queen at Buckingham Palace. Doherty. Kate. 14 May 2012. Retail Jeweller. en. 2019-07-15. 16 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190716041419/https://www.retail-jeweller.com/annoushka-ducas-and-john-ayton-accept-mbes-from-queen-at-buckingham-palace/5036721.article. live.
- News: Blackhurst . Chris . Annoushka Ducas: Links of London founder sparkling again with second retail success . 17 January 2020 . Evening Standard . 15 May 2015 . 1 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150901060215/http://www.standard.co.uk/business/markets/annoushka-ducas-links-of-london-founder-sparkling-again-with-second-retail-success-10252440.html . live .
