Valuing Sustainability with Planet Arborist founder John Creaton
John Creaton is CEO and co-founder of Planet Arborist, a platform designed to provide integrated support for businesses focused on sustainability. Planet Arborist works directly with producers on investment funding, business services, and ratings, and provides guidance on sustainable living.
He was born and educated in Ireland and has lived in Japan, London, and New York. He is now based in the UK. After starting his career as an engineer with Fujitsu in Tokyo, John spent 21 years at Goldman Sachs as a managing director. There he was responsible for global financial technology platforms, international teams, and supporting investment in external companies and markets. John has extensive experience in the UK, US, Japan, Hong Kong, Russia, Ireland, the Middle East, and India. After Goldman Sachs, John has advised and invested in private businesses.
John and his family have been plant-based for many years. It all started in 1994 with a decision to adopt a vegetarian diet. He faced a few challenges to being vegetarian in early 1990s Japan. From a personal perspective, the move to vegetarianism and later 100% plant-based living led to an increased interest in whole foods, cooking, international flavours, animal welfare and sustainability. With sustainability as a core value, John co-founded Planet Arborist.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, John covers the journey from growing up in Ireland to serving as a local employee of Fujitsu in Japan. He describes himself as a “bit of a rebel” within Goldman Sachs…one who rose to managing director working on businesses around the world. He also pushed the importance of diversity within the firm. His focus on sustainability ultimately led to the founding of Planet Arborist.
John is a fellow of the Royal Society for Arts and an advisor to the GB United World Colleges National Committee. He is also a member of the Vegan Society. At Goldman Sachs, John was co-chair of the European Technology Diversity Committee acting as an ally for LGBT and Disability. Stonewall named the Goldman Sachs group as the LGBT network of the year, citing a program of education and inclusion developed by John.
He is a keen cyclist, slow jogger, weekend ‘give it a go’ cook, Italophile, struggling musician, beer brewer, vegan cheesemaker, husband, and dad. He graduated from the University of Limerick, Ireland.
Connect with John: LinkedIn // Planet Arborist
#sustainability #vegan #plantbased #vegetarian #privateequity #goldmansachs #planetarborist #whatiwishiknew
Video Highlights: Planet Arborist Co-Founder John Creaton
“I just need to get round the next corner.”
On starting at Goldman Sachs in Japan
From Limerick, Ireland to Tokyo