Gail Suzanne Jones (born November 1977) [1] is a British businesswoman, entrepreneur and wife of convicted rapist Lawrence Jones. [2] She is co-founder and former CEO of the Manchester-based colocation, dedicated and cloud hosting provider, UKFast.
Gail Suzanne Jones (born November 1977) [1] is a British businesswoman, entrepreneur and wife of convicted rapist Lawrence Jones. [2] She is co-founder and former CEO of the Manchester-based colocation, dedicated and cloud hosting provider, UKFast.
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.
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]
Jones donated £100,000 to the Conservative Party in September 2019. [20]
Gail and Lawrence Jones have four daughters. They live in Cheshire, England.
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