advisory, Investment, & Consultancy
Henley Partners Limited is the vehicle for Ashley Highfield's board level advisory, consultancy, and investment business
Highlights
Current & Recent: Oyster Yachts Ltd, British Marine, Eden Project Ltd, Frost Property Trust, and consultancy work.
Ashley has been Chairman and then CEO of Oyster Yachts Limited, playing a hands-on role since early 2018 in the successful turn around of Oyster Yachts, makers of the world's finest blue-water luxury sailing yachts. New boat sales revenue have grown strongly, off the back of new models and the Oyster World Rally, at facilities in the UK and Palma, Majorca. The business has now become sustainably profitable, with a enviable reputation for quality, luxury, and innovation.
In March 2020, it was announced that Ashley was joining the board of Eden Project Limited as a Non-Executive Director. in 2021, he was asked to also join the EdenProject Board of Trustee's Finance Committee. In '22 asked to Chair the IT Committee, and in '23 became Chair of Eden Project Limited.
Ashley is further involved in a number of consultancy & investment projects directly through HenleyPartners Ltd, including commercial property portfolios, and working with boutique consultancy Vendigital on a number of assignments including Vodafone UK.
The i newspaper
Whilst CEO of what is now JPI Media, Ashley led the acquisition of the i newspaper, and launched inews.co.uk. Print circulation increased, and the website grew to 5 million users a month (from scratch). The paper and website have won multiple awards, and profits doubled within two years. Bought for £24m in 2016, and sold to DMGT plc for £50m in November 2019.
BBC iPlayer
Ashley was the main BBC Board Director responsible for the development and launch of the BBC iPlayer, the UK's leading video-on-demand platform