John Ashford is the co-founder of the company. He was born in New Zealand in 1962, grew up in Australia and moved to Hong Kong in 1994, where he still lives today. He worked as an international airline pilot for over 30 years – a job that gave him a unique perspective on the planet and the impact of human activity on a global scale. This sparked his interest in environmental protection and recycling.

His involvement with ABCircular is an expression of this interest. In addition, he has been involved in various business areas, including fashion/clothing and entertainment, and is currently co-owner of several restaurants. He supports Gesa Beck in management matters but is not involved in day-to-day operations.