Ashton James Hayward III (born April 15, 1969) is an American real estate developer and politician who served as the 62nd mayor of Pensacola from 2011 to 2018.

Hayward earned his bachelor's degree at Florida State University.

While in college, he took a break from studies in Miami, where he met his future wife, Belgian-born An (married 1996).

[4] For many years, Hayward and his wife lived in New York City, returning to Pensacola in 2003 to start a real estate development firm.

[5] In 2015, Hayward was appointed to the Florida Commission on Community Service by Governor Rick Scott.