Joanna Knight

Joanna Knight (Swash)
Born
Joanna Kathryn Swash

(1972-10-09) 9 October 1972 (age 54)
Wrexham, Wales
Occupationsbusinesswoman, CEO

Joanna Kathryn Knight OBE (born 9 October 1972), also known as Joanna Swash, is a British businesswoman. She is former Group CEO of Moneypenny, an international business of answering services.

Early life and career

Joanna Kathryn Swash was born in Wrexham, Wales and educated at Alun School, Mold, Flintshire. She started her career as an owner of a small business that sold typewriter ribbons in UK (it failed as the popularity of laser printers rose). In 2005, She joined Moneypenny, a UK-based provider of answering services, as a salesperson, becoming CEO in 2018. Knight led Moneypenny into the US market, securing private equity from ECI Partners and acquiring three US businesses: VoiceNation, Alphapage, and Sunshine Communications.

Knight's straight-talking and open approach earned her a place on Boris Johnson's Prime Minister's Business Council.

Knight is the chairperson of Wrexham Community & Culture Trust, an independent charity based in Wrexham, established with the support of Wrexham County Borough Council. Knight headed a consortium backing an Investment Zone for Flintshire and Wrexham which received UK Government backing worth up to £160 million as well as acted as Chair of the City of Culture 2025 bid.

Knight has featured in several thought leadership books: Celebrity Service by Geoff Ramm, The Nowhere Office by Julia Hobsbawm and Employee Experience by Ben Whitter, and is a regular guest on BBC Radio 5 Live's Wake Up to Money.

Awards and honours

References

  1. ↑ "Lessons in Leadership from Joanna Swash, group CEO of Moneypenny". Harper's BAZAAR. 3 May 2021.
  2. ↑ "A woman of substance | Feature". Research Live. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  3. ↑ "Joanna Swash: "The Key Is in Knowing Yourself, Your Purpose, Your Strengths, and Your Weaknesses"". Engageemployee.com.
  4. ↑ "i-dont-think-us-thinking-failure"/podcast/article/1878715 "Moneypenny CEO: "I don't think any of us should be thinking about failure"". Managementtoday.co.uk.
  5. ↑ "Moneypenny acquires Alphapage - ECI Partners". ECI Partners - UK private equity firm. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  6. ↑ "PM assembles new cohort of business leaders to turbocharge UK economy". GOV.UK. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  7. ↑ "Wrecsam UK City of Culture Bid 2029 - Wrexham Community & Culture Trust". WRECSAM.
  8. ↑ "#Wrecsam2029 City of Culture Bid Director appointed by Trust - Wrexham Council News". wrexham.gov.uk. 23 October 2024.
  9. ↑ Wales, North (24 November 2023). "Investment Zone in Wrexham and Flintshire Receives Boost from Chancellor". Business News Wales. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  10. ↑ "UK City of Culture 2025". GOV.UK. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  11. ↑ "Joanna Kathryn Knight OBE: Kings Honour to Extraordinary Businesswoman". Bru Times News.
  12. ↑ "Moneypenny CEO 'surprised and honoured' to have received OBE". The Leader. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  13. ↑ "Joanna SWASH | Order of the British Empire | The Gazette". Thegazette.co.uk.
  14. ↑ "New Year Honours List 2024" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  15. ↑ "Winners announced at IoD Wales' Director of the Year Awards ceremony". IOD.com.
  16. ↑ "/leadership-lessons/article/1715092 "The most powerful thing you can say as a leader is "I don't know"". Managementtoday.co.uk.
  17. ↑ "Women to Watch". Cranfield.ac.uk.