Mr ASHTON oversees Link’s engagement with key corporate stakeholders including media, government, regulators, and the wider community, and he works in close partnership with other management members to ensure alignment of communications efforts with investors, colleagues, and other stakeholders. David also oversees Link’s branding and partnership efforts.

Prior to joining Link in November 2024, Mr ASHTON was Partner and Head of Tokyo for Brunswick Group where he spent 13 years, including nine in Hong Kong between 2011 and 2020, advising corporates across Asia around their engagement with key stakeholders on critical issues such as M&A and capital raising, geopolitics, ESG, governance, cyber, crisis, and regulatory affairs. While at Brunswick, Mr ASHTON was lead of the firm’s Financial Industries Group in Asia and he helped to establish Brunswick’s Tokyo office as the first Partner on the ground in Japan.
 
Mr ASHTON started his career in political polling and communications in the United Kingdom where he advised both the Conservative and Labour parties around their election campaigns. He has an MA in Public Opinion and Polling and a BA in Politics & Law, both from the University of Essex.