British businesswoman and entrepreneur (born 1977)
Gail Jones, UKFast CEO and founder.
Gail Suzanne Jones (born November 1977)[1] is a British businesswoman, entrepreneur and wife of Lawrence Jones.[2] She is co-founder and former CEO of the Manchester-based colocation, dedicated and cloud hosting provider, UKFast.
Biography
As a child, Jones attended Altrincham Grammar School for Girls. In 1999, she formed UKFast with her partner Lawrence Jones.[3] The hosting and colocation business operates a data centre complex in Trafford Park, Manchester, and has more 300 employees. In 2018, the firm's turnover was £53.9 million and the company was valued at £405million.[4] In 2017 she became the managing director,[5] and in 2019, she took over the CEO role.[6]
The same year, Jones and husband Lawrence sold a 30% stake in the business to private equity firm Inflexion.[7]
She exited the business in 2020.[8]
She has overseen investments in various businesses, including in public sector tech company S-IA in 2017.[9] Jones and her husband acquired Le Farinet Hotel in Swiss ski resort Verbier in September 2014. Jones is also a director for cybersecurity firm Secarma,[10] magazine and events creator BusinessCloud and UKFast Properties.
In 2017, Jones joined the board of not-for-profit organisation Tech Manchester.[11] Jones also sits on the board of Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, which includes Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Charity.[12] Jones launched the UKFast Community and Education Awards in 2018,[13] and signed the Tech Talent Charter[14] and the Manchester Pride 'All Equals Charter'[15] on behalf of UKFast to drive diversity and inclusion in the technology industry.
Honours and awards
In 2018, Jones was awarded the ICCC Caring Citizen of the Humanities Award.[16]
She was named in the Northern Power Women List in 2016 and 2019.[17] She was also listed in the 2018 and 2019 Most Influential Women in Tech List collated by Computer Weekly.[18][19]
