James Brent

Chairman

James built his career as a merchant and investment banker and is the founder and Chairman of Akkeron Group.
James previously enjoyed a 25-year career as one of the City’s leading investment bankers, from the youngest ever Director of merchant bank J. Henry Schroder and Co., to Citigroup’s Global Head and Chairman of Real Estate and Lodging. He has advised the Boards of large companies in the UK and across the world and has led a wide range of M&A, restructuring, and financing transactions.
Since stepping down as an investment banker in 2009, James has spent much of his working time supporting the public sector. He has served as the non-executive chairman of the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, and until September 2016 he was the non-executive Chairman of Plymouth University. He also chaired the Plymouth City Development Company, a quango set up to drive economic growth and regeneration in Plymouth and the surrounding area. In August 2022 he was appointed non-executive Chair of University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, and he continues to dedicate himself to this role today.