Joanna Shields to lead Tech City

Joanna Shields is leaving Facebook, where she is Vice-President and Managing Director Europe, Middle East and Africa, to take up the role as Chief Executive of the Tech City Investment Organisation (TCIO) in January 2013. In addition to becoming chief executive of TCIO, she will also take up position as Business Ambassador for the Digital Industries.  TCIO was set up in April 2011 as part of UK Trade and Investment to help by attracting inward investment, and supporting companies in the cluster who want to expand into international markets. Organisations in Tech City now include Google, Intel, Cisco, General Assembly, University College London and Imperial College London.

Joanna Shields said, “Throughout my career I have had the privilege of working with great entrepreneurs and innovators to create thriving new businesses and industries. The seeds have been sown in East London for a dynamic and successful cluster: we have the infrastructure, the technology and the talent, now we need to accelerate the growth.  I am looking forward to leading the Tech City Investment Organisation in the next phase of its development. With the right boost now, there is no reason why we can’t make London the number one location for tech in the world.”

About Joanna Shields

Joanna Shields currently serves as Vice President and Managing Director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Facebook. Before joining Facebook, Shields was President at AOL, responsible for social and communications businesses, and previously served as chief executive of Bebo. She has also been Google’s Managing Director for Europe, Russia, Middle East & Africa. She was named as Wired Magazine’s “Most Influential Person in European Technology” in 2011, and the 6th most influential person in global media by the Media Guardian in 2012.