​Following his service in Iraq and Northern Ireland as an infantry soldier in the British Army, James Lawrence noticed an opportunity to help fellow veterans find meaningful work after leaving the forces.


With a keen interest in the ESG space (Environment, Social, and Governance) James quickly identified a gap in the market, recognising that there were no full-service recruitment firms specialising in placing ex-military personnel. In 2010, he founded Ex-Military Careers, a social enterprise platform dedicated to finding fulfilling employment for veterans on civvy street. The platform has since grown into an international community of more than 220,000 members.


In 2015, James co-founded a training academy that went on to receive accreditation from the British Accreditation Council (BAC), and partner with the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and its academy, helping veterans retrain and become financial professionals.


In 2019, he co-founded an investment management and advisory firm, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).


James achieved an MBA (Master of Business Administration) from Bayes Business School, and he holds certificates in Investment Management, ESG, and Operations, along with diplomas in Securities and Derivatives.


‘I believe in integrity and healthy competition, and I’m passionate about eliminating workplace barriers, overcoming cognitive biases, and getting creative when it comes to building accessible, understandable products.’