John was appointed Learning and Skills Council Regional Director for the North West of England in January 2004, and in September that year added the role of Executive Director for Greater Manchester. During the recent streamlining of the organisation John has relinquished the Greater Manchester role to concentrate on leading learning and skills for the North West Region. Between 1994 and 2002 he was Principal of Solihull Sixth Form College. He joined the LSC in October 2002, as Executive Director, South Yorkshire.