Jo Connell
Jo has been in the IT Industry since 1966 when she joined Mars Inc as a trainee programmer. Her career developed with appointments as a Systems Analyst at Aspro Nicholas and a Consultant at CMG Ltd.
Following the birth of her first child in 1976, Jo joined F International (FI), a company founded by Dame Stephanie Shirley, a Past Master of The Information Technologists. The company grew rapidly and after a number of acquisitions rebranded to Xansa plc. During her career there Jo held many positions including Sales and Marketing Director and Chief Operating Officer. She was appointed to the Board in 1991 and became Group Managing Director in 2000.
Jo “retired” from Xansa in 2003 to follow a “portfolio career” – a mixture of fee earning and not-for-profit activities. Since leaving Xansa she has held a number of non-executive director positions with companies such as THUS plc, Synstar plc, London Bridge Software Holdings, Cornwell Management Consultants and @UK plc. She is currently a non-executive director of RM plc.
In addition she is Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the University of Hertfordshire, Chairman of the UK charity Help the Aged and Chairman of the Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted.
Jo joined the Information Technologists in October 1996 and became a Liveryman in April 1999. She has served on a number of committees, chairing the Education and Training Committee, the Charitable Development Committee and the Membership Committee.
She is a fellow of the British Computer Society, a Chartered Engineer and a Charted IT Professional.
She is married to Michael (who was also in the IT industry) and lives in Hertfordshire. They have two grown up children, a son, who is married with two sons, and a daughter.
In 2008 Jo was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Hertfordshire. |
