About John

John May CVO OBE DL has spent more than four decades working at the intersection of leadership, public service and civil society. Throughout that time, one conviction has remained constant: that people and communities flourish when they are trusted, encouraged and given the opportunity to contribute.

Today, John is Chief Executive of Cats Protection, one of the UK’s largest charities, leading a nationwide movement of staff, volunteers and supporters dedicated to improving the lives of cats. Alongside his executive role, he serves as Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Chair of Oxfordshire Youth, National Vice President of the Marine Society & Sea Cadets and holds a number of trustee and advisory appointments across the charitable and education sectors.

His career has rarely followed a conventional path. Beginning as a teacher, he soon discovered that his greatest interest lay not simply in education, but in helping people discover confidence, purpose and possibility. That curiosity led him into youth work, volunteering and eventually the leadership of organisations whose missions ranged from enterprise education and employability to international youth development and animal welfare.

Before joining Cats Protection, John served as Secretary General of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, helping to expand one of the world’s largest youth development programmes across more than 130 countries and territories. Earlier leadership roles included Chief Executive of Career Academies UK (now Career Ready), where he helped pioneer employer-led education partnerships, and Chief Executive of Young Enterprise, championing enterprise and financial education for young people throughout the UK.

Volunteering has always been central to John’s life. A lifelong Scout, he has served locally, nationally and internationally, including as Vice-Chair of the World Scout Committee, working alongside volunteers from every continent. Those experiences, together with extensive international travel, have shaped his belief that while cultures differ enormously, people are remarkably similar in what they hope for themselves, their families and their communities.

Alongside his executive career, John has chaired and served on the boards of charities, schools and community organisations covering education, youth work, social mobility, international development and public service. In 2025–26 he had the privilege of serving as High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, using the year to champion young people through the theme “Hearing the Young Unheard”, a commitment that continues through his work as a Deputy Lieutenant.

John is also an experienced keynote speaker, facilitator and mentor. He speaks regularly on leadership, governance, volunteering, organisational culture and the future of civil society, combining practical experience with an engaging and optimistic style. Rather than presenting leadership as a set of techniques, he encourages organisations to begin with purpose, build trust, embrace curiosity and remember that strategy only matters if it improves people’s lives.

Writing has become an increasingly important part of John’s work. Through this website he shares essays on leadership, community, volunteering, public life, travel and the occasional glorious detour into subjects that simply catch his imagination. His writing reflects the same qualities that characterise his leadership: curiosity rather than certainty, optimism rather than cynicism, and a belief that complexity is usually best approached with humility, kindness and a sense of humour.

Away from work, John lives in Oxfordshire with his husband, Mark. He enjoys travelling—particularly in Scandinavia and Australia—walking, musical theatre, exploring historic places, discovering independent bookshops and cafés, and spending time with the cats who, as every cat owner knows, generously allow humans to share their home.

Whether leading a national charity, chairing a board meeting, mentoring an emerging leader or writing an essay over a good cup of coffee, John returns to the same simple philosophy that has guided much of his career:

Lead, follow and then get out of the way.