James Timpson OBE is a British businessman and politician who is currently Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending. From 2002 until 2024 he was the CEO of the five-generation, family-owned company Timpson, which includes many of the UK's best-known high street retailers. In addition to leading an organisation of 5,600 staff across 2,000 locations, James was Chair of the Prison Reform Trust and regularly advised figures across the private and public sectors. He is the father to three adult children and lives in Cheshire with his wife, Roisin. The Happy Index is his first book and all of his earnings will be given to the Prison Reform Trust.