Facebook appoints Joanna Shields as head of Tech City
Joanna Shields Takes the Helm at Tech City Investment Organisation
Joanna Shields, a renowned figure in the tech industry, has been appointed as the CEO of the Tech City Investment Organisation (TCIO), effective from January 2013. The TCIO, a department of the UK government, was set up in April 2011 as part of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).
TCIO operates within the context of UK tech firms eyeing opportunities in the content revolution, as suggested by the title "UK tech firms eye opportunity in content revolution". Its purpose is to attract foreign investment for and help the companies located in East London's Tech City cluster to grow internationally.
Shields, who has held previous roles as president at AOL, chief executive of social networking site Bebo, and Google's managing director for Europe, Russia, Middle East Africa, believes the UK has the potential to become a major force in digital innovation. With a decade-long experience in the country, she is confident about the UK's prospects.
As CEO of TCIO, Shields will be responsible for securing foreign investment and raising the profile of companies in Tech City. She aims to make London the number one location for tech in the world.
The Tech City area includes organisations such as Google, Cisco, Yammer, and Intel. Shields has expressed her excitement about leading the TCIO in its next phase of development.
In addition to her role as CEO, Shields will also take on the unpaid role of business ambassador for the Digital Industries. She will work with the Business Ambassadors Network, established in October 2008, to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access global markets.
Shields has also been named one of Europe's most influential technology leaders in 2011 and has been appointed as the national sponsor for the organisation "Tech Nation."
UKTI works with UK-based companies by offering expertise and contacts through its network of specialists in the UK and in British embassies around the world. With Shields at the helm, the TCIO is poised to play a significant role in the UK's digital future.
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