James Staughton OBE DL

The full New Year Honours list for 2020, recognising the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, was published at the end of December and we were delighted to see our Renter Warden being recognised. The Company would like to offer huge congratulations to James Staughton, of St Austell Brewery, who has been appointed as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to brewing and to Cornwall.

James joined St Austell Brewery as an apprentice at the age of 21, moving around the company and doing as many jobs as possible, including brewing at 5am! He became a Director eight years later and was appointed CEO in 2000. Under his leadership, St Austell has gone from strength to strength, growing its numbers of pubs and staff and raising its turnover from £10 million in 1980 to £190 million in the last financial year. In that time, the brewery has also won 290 awards. James says: "I never thought we'd end up selling nationally and internationally, let alone acquire Bath Ales. I'm so proud of what our brewing team and the rest of the estate have achieved. If our founder Walter Hicks were still around today I think he'd be proud too."

James is the chairman of the St Austell Bay Economic Forum, a Community Interest Company which seeks to promote economic growth and help the St Austell Bay area realise its full potential. He is also deputy Lord Lieutenant for Cornwall and will become Master of the Brewers' Company in 2022.