James Ashton is chief executive of the Quoted Companies Alliance, the members’ organisation that champions small and mid-sized companies whose shares are publicly traded. James was City editor and executive editor of the Evening Standard and independent titles and, before that, City editor of The Sunday Times. He is the author of several business books and chairs Oscar’s book prize, the annual search for the UK‘s best picture book. James is also a non-executive director of Finsbury Growth & Income, a FTSE 250 investment trust.