James Penney’s early career was in academia, including undergraduate and postgraduate research at Trinity College, Cambridge, followed by six years as Principal Lecturer at Westminster College, Oxford. After Oxford, James was a Sloan Fellow at London Business School.

James was previously the owner and Managing Director of Darwin Consulting, a strategy consulting firm he co-founded in 1997. This firm provided strategic advice to directors and investors in a range of industries, including financial services, private equity and media. James has also held directorships at companies within the banking and investment sectors.