After a background working in the public sector as a surveyor, John Denning developed his skills as a property specialist, progressing to head of property UK for McDonalds Restaurants LTD, then operations director, and subsequently managing director, for Bass Leisure Retail and then CEO of the Voyager Pub Group, leading the conversion of the group’s pubs from managed to leased. After successfully completing this new arrangement, he started his own consultancy business, advising on commercial property and business matters.