John Boothman Stuttard was born on 6 February 1945, the son of Thomas Boothman Stuttard and Helena Stuttard (née Teasdale). He was educated at Shrewsbury School and Churchill College, Cambridge. He married Lesley Sylvia Daish in 1970, with whom he has two sons.

After graduating, he spent a year in Borneo teaching English with Voluntary Service Overseas. He trained as a chartered accountant and spent his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers, joining the firm in 1967, becoming a partner in 1975, retiring in 2005, and continuing as an adviser until 2012. He also spent five years in China as Executive Chairman of the firm, 1994-9. He was seconded to the Central Policy Review Staff at the Cabinet Office to advise on nationalised industries and their privatisation, 1981-3.

He was an Alderman of the City of London, 2001-13, and served as Sheriff, 2005-6, and Lord Mayor, 2006-7. He was a Liveryman, and served as Master, of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass and the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants. He was Chairman of St Paul's Cathedral Foundation and a Trustee of Morden College.

He was knighted in 2008.

His other honours include: Commander of the Order of the Lion [Finland]; Silver Medal of the City of Helsinki; Knight of Justice of the Order of St John of Jerusalem; Companion of the League of Mercy; and 20th Anniversary of Independence Medal of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He was awarded an honorary doctorate (Dlitt) by City University and honorary membership of the ACCA [Association of Chartered Certified Accountants], the CISI [Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment], and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

His publications include: "The New Silk Road - Secrets of Business Success in China Today" (2000); and "Whittington to World Financial Centre: the City of London and its Lord Mayor" (2008).