Meet John May

I work with leaders who carry serious responsibility.

My career has been spent in senior leadership, governance and civic roles, often in values-led organisations operating under scrutiny, complexity and change. I have worked closely with boards, trustees and senior teams, and understand how leadership feels when decisions matter and certainty is limited.

What interests me most is not technique, but judgement: how leaders think, decide and act when the ground is shifting and the consequences are real.

Experience and perspective

My work is shaped by many years in executive leadership, governance and civic life, across national and international contexts.

I have led complex, purpose-led organisations at scale, balancing long-term stewardship with day-to-day decision-making in environments where trust, legitimacy and public confidence are essential. That experience has demanded calm judgement, thoughtful communication and the ability to navigate competing pressures without losing sight of purpose.

I serve as Chief Executive of Cats Protection, leading a large national charity with a significant public profile and a substantial volunteer movement. Before that, I was Secretary General of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, working internationally with governments, foundations and civil society partners across very different cultural and political settings.

Alongside executive leadership, I have held a range of civic, non-executive director and trustee roles. Over the years, that work has been recognised through honours including the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion, appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO), and the award of an Honorary Doctorate.

These experiences continue to shape the way I work. I don't claim to have all the answers, but I have spent many years making difficult decisions, advising others through them and living with their consequences. That perspective informs every conversation I have through Lilywood.

What matters to me

Throughout my career I have worked with organisations whose effectiveness depends on trust. That has shaped the questions I return to again and again:

  • maintaining integrity under pressure

  • building, sustaining and repairing trust

  • exercising judgement when certainty is unavailable

These are the questions that sit at the heart of my work through Lilywood.

Lilywood Advisory Services Ltd

Registered in England and Wales

Company number: 16907039

Registered office: Lilywood House, North Lane, Weston on the Green, Bicester OX25 3RG

Email

hello@lilywood.net

© 2026. All rights reserved.

Privacy notice | Cookie policy
We respect your privacy and collect only what we need.