John M. Mohin OBE
Location: Liverpool | UK
John Mohin was born in Liverpool and developed an early interest in English Ceramics. Living in the city gave unrivalled access to The Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool City Museum and The Picton Library.
An early interest in ceramics turned into an all-consuming passion for Wedgwood and he joined the company as a Management Trainee, rising to become Managing Director of Wedgwood Australia and President of Wedgwood Japan.
He was educated at The Harris College, now University of Central Lancashire, qualified as a Graduate of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and studied Strategic Marketing at Harvard Business School in the USA.
He is an acknowledged authority on Wedgwood, having lectured and spoken to Wedgwood Societies around the world and been elected Patron of the International Wedgwood Society.
John Mohin was a member of the board that mounted a campaign to ensure that the priceless Collection of the Wedgwood Museum should remain in England.
After a period of prolonged uncertainty, the entire Wedgwood Museum was finally saved for the British Nation and is now in the safe custody of the Victoria & Albert Museum. This important part of our national, social and industrial history is destined to remain in posterity for successive generations to enjoy.
The list of luxury brand names that John has been directly associated with reads like a veritable Who’s Who of the British Pottery Industry and includes Spode, Coalport, Royal Worcester, Royal Crown Derby and of course, Wedgwood.
When Wedgwood merged with Waterford Crystal in 1986, John was the only British executive invited to join Head Office in Ireland. Having gained a deep understanding of the brand, heritage and qualities of both Waterford Crystal and Wedgwood, John was appointed to lead core overseas subsidiary companies.
His time in Australia finished rather well and was marked by a letter from Prime Minister Rt. Hon. John Howard thanking him for his contribution to the Commonwealth of Australia. He was subsequently granted Australian Citizenship, which he holds jointly with Great Britain.
On returning to Britain from Australia, John was made a director of the iconic Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and raised funds to replace ageing aircraft serving the remote Australian Outback.
After a very ambitious campaign of targeted fundraising, the UK Division succeeded in raising enough money to commission a fully equipped aircraft, a brand new ‘King Air B200’. The new plane was later named Friends in the United Kingdom and unveiled by HRH Prince Charles, Patron of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, at Broken Hill Airbase in Australia.
In addition to raising money for the Wedgwood Museum and Royal Flying Doctor Service, John has been proactive in fundraising for The Army Cadet Force and The Army Benevolent Fund, the Soldiers Charity.
John Mohin has spoken in aid of various causes and a recent address in East Yorkshire for example, proved to be a sell-out event with all proceeds channeled to Yorkshire Cancer Research.
He was behind a Scholarship Fund to assist impoverished students of all ages in Liverpool and the European Capital of Culture celebrations in 2008, saw John elevated to become an Honorary Fellow of Liverpool John Moores University. He is a Freeman of the City of London and a distinguished member of The Leaders Club.
John Mohin served as an Ambassador for the International Business Festival and in addition, acts as a Business Mentor for the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council. He currently serves as a member of the Advisory Council to the Dean of Lancashire School of Business and Enterprise, at UCLAN.
As a non-executive director, John Mohin has advised series of clients on revenue streams and business development with a special focus upon the intellectual property of brands, logo devices, design and innovation.
For his contribution to the British Pottery Industry, he was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by Staffordshire University and later made OBE for Services to Business and Charity in the North West.
.
