John Longworth was Chairman of the Vote Leave Business Council for the duration of the referendum campaign having resigned as Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce in March 2016 after nearly five years in post. An expert in international business, John has worked on every continent over the course of his career has had Executive Board positions at Asda Group and Tesco.

In 2009 he embarked on a portfolio career and founded a science, IT and professional services business, SVA Ltd, which in 2015 employed 200 scientists and professionals when, as Chairman, he steered to a successful exit.

John also holds a number of company non-executive director positions including Board audit, risk committee and remuneration committee. John has always been active in public roles including as a panel member of the Competition Commission, a Council Member of the World Chambers Federation, a Board member of the U.K. India Business Council and as Chairman of the Paris based CIES International Product Standards Committee.