Q&A with Joanna Richardson, Executive MBA, Commercial Marketing Leader | CMO
In this conversation, Suzie is joined by Joanna Richardson, a commercially focused marketer with a broad leadership background across hospitality, tourism, and FMCG. Jo reflects on a career shaped by deliberately choosing stretching opportunities, from her early days to senior brand positions. She shares how her experience built a strong foundation in global brand building before moving into senior leadership roles. Alongside non-executive roles in tourism and qualifying as a coach during lockdown, her story highlights the power of embracing challenge, continuous learning, and intentional career choices to drive long-term success.
About Jo
Jo Richardson is an executive MBA-qualified marketing leader with almost 20 years of driving measurable commercial results across hospitality, tourism and FMCG sectors. Her most recent role was Chief Executive Officer at Go To Places, which was one of the UK’s leading destination management organisations managing Visit Kent and Visit Hertfordshire.
Prior to that Jo spent 7 years in hospitality - as Marketing Director at Raymond Blanc’s Heartwood Collection and Director of Marketing & Communications at Shepherd Neame. And she started off in the drinks industry building an international marketing career in the likes of Pernod Ricard and Bacardi.
Jo also enjoys opportunities to broaden her experience and has taken on a number of Non Executive Director roles in the tourism sector for Canterbury Business Improvement District and Visit Kent. She also achieved Executive Coach status during the pandemic as a key tool to support her leadership style.
We hope you enjoy this thoughtful and insightful conversation as much as we did.
Look out for more videos in our Q&A series in the Content Hub.
Suzie Walker Executive Search is a specialist headhunting firm dedicated to finding exceptional interim and permanent senior marketing, digital, and technology leaders for both B2C and B2B organisations. We partner with FTSE 350 and private equity–backed companies, recruiting for roles at Head, Director and Chief (C-suite) level.
If you’re ready to make your next move, we regularly post new opportunities on our LinkedIn company page. If you apply for a role on the platform, it requires a 1st connection for us to respond, so please make sure to connect with Suzie Walker. Our company page is also frequently updated with the latest hiring news, expert interviews, and candidate guidance, so well worth following.
