John Ayton MBE (born 1962/1963), is a British businessman and investor in the luxury goods industry,^[2] and the co-founder of Links of London and Annoushka, an English jewellery brand founded in 2009.^[3]

Ayton was educated at Oundle School and graduated in modern history from Oxford University in 1983.^{[citation needed]}

After university, Ayton worked in corporate law in London and Hong Kong.^{[citation needed]}

Leaving the legal profession in 1995, he was on the advisory board of Halston Borghese Inc, a US-based cosmetics company, responsible for restructuring their Japanese and German operations.^[4]

In 1990, together with his wife, jewellery designer Annoushka Ducas, Ayton co-founded Links of London, a jewellery brand with sales of over £50m. In July 2006, they sold the company to Folli Follie SA.^[5] In October 2007, Ayton stepped down from the company.^[4]

In July 2009, Ayton and Ducas launched English jewellery brand Annoushka Jewellery.^[5]

Ayton has invested at the earliest stage in emerging luxury brands including Bremont Watch Company,^[4] Orlebar Brown,^[6] Mr Hare,^[7] Boticca.com,^[8] and Grind & Co.^[9]

He also acts as a mentor and advisor to the founders, and is chairman at both Bremont^[10] and Mr Hare.^[7]

Ayton was the founder of Walpole Brands of Tomorrow and its chair and a director until 2014. Since 2007, he has been mentoring and supporting British emerging talent within the luxury goods industry.^[4]

Ayton and wife Ducas were ambassadors for Team 2012, the campaign to support British athletes in their quest for medal success in the London Olympics. The campaign raised over £18 million.^[11]

In the 2012 New Years Honours List, Ayton was awarded an MBE for his services to the UK jewellery industry.^[12]

Ayton and Ducas live in a Georgian cottage in Pimlico, London, since 2007, having previously lived in Notting Hill.^[1] They also have a seaside house in Bosham, West Sussex.^[13] They have four children.^[13]