James previously spent 18 years at J.P. Morgan, initially through the Global Management Training Programme in New York, followed by two years in Paris covering French Corporate clients. He then returned to London and assumed a variety of sales leadership roles including running UK Corporate, US and Asia Multinational Coverage teams. James's last role at J.P. Morgan was as Corporate Sales Executive, Northern Europe.

James has a B.A. Hons degree in French from University College, London and Montpellier University.