John Grounds is director of communications for the NSPCC. His responsibilities cover all aspects of the society's PR, advertising, new media, marketing communications and internal communications.

John's career has taken in both commercial and charity roles. Prior to the NSPCC he was director of campaigns and communications at medical charity Action Medical Research. His last task at Action Research was to launch the charity's 50th anniversary year, with the help of its long-time mascot, Paddington Bear.

Past roles include responsibility for Communications at Barnardo's, five years at The Body Shop as international PR manager and a PR and campaigning role alongside Bruce Kent at the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

John is also the author of a book, London: A Living Guide

Born in Braintree, Essex, John went to university in Cambridge and Reading before moving to London, where he lived until moving to his current home in Horsham, West Sussex, after the birth of his son, Tom in 1990.

Outside work, music is a consuming passion, as well as a love of film, art and literature and a 40-year devotion to Arsenal FC.