Ken Giles has spent almost 38years in the private sector mainly with Ford, Jaguar and up until he took early retirement in 2003 as Managing Director of Aston Martin where he was instrumental in re engineering the company and establishing a sustainable profit for the first time in it’s 80 year history. He has travelled extensively and worked in Europe, U.S.A. and Japan.

In 2001 he was awarded a visiting professorship at Coventry University where he also accepted a Honorary Doctorate in 2006 for outstanding services to the motor industry. In 2007 he was also awarded a visiting professorship at Ashcroft Business School in Cambridge.

Since retiring he has established his own consultancy and has a portfolio companies where he has been Chairman or  Non- Executive Director.

As well as Director Trustee with Autistica , he is currently Chairman of Oxford Infracare LIFT, a Non-Executive Director at The Greater Manchester Transport Executive and a Board Member at The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation.

He has three children including a 14year old son, Nicholas, who is autistic.