About Front Street
Who we are
Business today faces change on every front at once — political uncertainty, rapid technological shift, the transition to net zero, disrupted trade and supply chains, tightening regulation, and rising expectations from investors, customers and the public.
Meeting that change takes more than technical expertise or public affairs in isolation. It takes advisers who understand how policy, politics, infrastructure, markets and reputation move together — and who can work at board level while getting the detail right.
That is what Front Street Consulting was built to do. We work alongside leadership teams as a trusted adviser: bringing evidence, strategic clarity and the relationships to turn a plan into a result.
What makes us different
Evidence-led.
Everything starts with evidence — research, analysis, technical and economic understanding. We don't just recommend a strategy; we build the case that supports it.
Strategic.
We help organisations understand where they need to be in five or ten years, not only how to react today.
Grounded in delivery.
Our advice comes from practical experience across transport, ports, infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics and international trade - sectors we know from the inside.
Built on trust.
We work collaboratively with clients, governments, regulators and industry to develop solutions that are practical and deliverable — not just presentable.
Leadership
David Leighton FRSA — Founder & Director
David founded Front Street Consulting in 2019, after more than two decades advising organisations in regulated, strategically important sectors — combining board-level counsel with genuine government and technical fluency.
He spent 14 years at Associated British Ports, the UK's largest ports operator, rising to Group Head of Corporate Affairs and Marketing. There he built and led the corporate affairs function across ABP's 21 ports — including its award-winning publications, annual reviews and national economic impact study — and contributed to master planning for major ports including Southampton, Immingham and Newport. He went on to advise the Cabinet Office on trade resilience, communications and future policy, and earlier supported Rail Freight Group and its chairman, Lord Berkeley, on parliamentary and government engagement.
Since founding Front Street, David has led major programmes for Aston Martin — including the award-winning Racing. Green. sustainability strategy — as well as DHL, PD Ports and East Midlands Freeport, where he helped deliver the business cases that established the UK's only inland freeport. Since 2023 he has also served as Chief Executive of Aviation Services UK, the trade association for the UK's aviation ground services providers. His work has been recognised internationally, including at the IPRA Golden World Awards and the Corporate Communications Awards.
Ian Bacon — Associate Director, Decarbonisation
A consultant engineer specialising in transport decarbonisation and net zero, Ian brings the technical depth behind our sustainability work — from HGV electrification to aviation decarbonisation.
Andrew Williams — Associate Director, US Advisory
With more than twenty years' global experience in public affairs, communications and marketing, Andrew leads our US market intelligence and international engagement.
Geoff Lippitt — Associate Director, Logistics
Geoff brings over thirty years in global logistics, including senior roles as Chief Commercial Officer at PD Ports and Vice President, Global Business Development at Kuehne & Nagel. He grounds our infrastructure and logistics advice in real commercial experience.
Our associate directors mean clients get board-level counsel backed by genuine specialist depth — engineering, logistics, public affairs and international markets — on the same team.
Let’s start a conversation
Whether you need strategic advice, government engagement, sustainability expertise or support delivering a complex programme, we'd welcome the chance to discuss how Front Street Consulting can help.