Gail Jones (entrepreneur)

Gail Suzanne Jones (born November 1977) is a British businesswoman, entrepreneur and wife of Lawrence Jones. 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. 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. In 2017 she became the managing director, and in 2019, she took over the CEO role.
The same year, Jones and husband Lawrence sold a 30% stake in the business to private equity firm Inflexion.
She exited the business in 2020.
She has overseen investments in various businesses, including in public sector tech company S-IA in 2017. 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, magazine and events creator BusinessCloud and UKFast Properties.
In 2017, Jones joined the board of not-for-profit organisation Tech Manchester. Jones also sits on the board of Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, which includes Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Charity. Jones launched the UKFast Community and Education Awards in 2018, and signed the Tech Talent Charter and the Manchester Pride 'All Equals Charter' 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.
She was named in the Northern Power Women List in 2016 and 2019. She was also listed in the 2018 and 2019 Most Influential Women in Tech List collated by Computer Weekly.
Political activity
Jones donated £100,000 to the Conservative Party in September 2019.

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