Joe Garner is a top-tier business leader who has led some of the UK’s most recognisable financial and telecommunications organisations. As Chief Executive of Nationwide Building Society, he navigated the organisation through Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining its customer-first approach while driving digital transformation. Before this, he was CEO of Openreach, key in expanding superfast broadband access across the UK.
Joe's career began at Procter & Gamble, followed by leadership roles at HSBC, where he guided the UK retail division through the financial crisis of 2008. He has served on industry boards, advised government bodies, and chaired regulatory panels, influencing key financial and infrastructure policies. In 2023, he was commissioned by the Chancellor to lead a review into the future of payments, with the government committing to his key recommendations. He also serves on the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee.
Beyond the corporate world, Joe passionately advocates for leadership with humanity, mental and physical well-being, and ethical decision-making in business. He is a Patron of British Triathlon, a GB age-group competitor, and Chair of the charity Tennis First. His recently published book "52 Hard Learned Learned Lessons for Leaders" shares lessons from a career spent balancing purpose with commercial success.
An engaging and thoughtful speaker, Joe brings deep experience from leading complex organisations through change, offering insight into purpose-driven leadership, resilience, and strategy.
Joe Garner examines the role of ethical leadership in today’s fast-moving and high-pressure corporate world. Drawing on his experience leading major organisations through economic and regulatory challenges, he explores how integrity, transparency, and purpose can drive long-term success. He addresses the tension between commercial pressures and doing the right thing, offering practical insights into building trust with employees, customers, and stakeholders. His perspective challenges conventional leadership thinking, highlighting the value of ethical decision-making in shaping resilient, high-performing organisations.
Joe Garner explores how digital innovation is reshaping financial services, from payments and infrastructure to customer experience and operational strategy. Having led major transformation initiatives in banking and telecommunications, he shares lessons on balancing technological advancement with customer needs, regulatory requirements, and ethical considerations. He examines the risks and opportunities of emerging trends, from AI to digital payments, offering a clear view of how businesses can embrace innovation while maintaining trust and purpose in an increasingly digital world.
Joe Garner unpacks the changing nature of work, exploring how businesses can navigate shifting expectations, workforce dynamics, and technological disruption. With experience leading large organisations through economic turbulence and digital transformation, he examines what the workplace of the future will look like and what leaders must do to keep up. From flexible working and skills development to maintaining employee wellbeing in an always-on culture, he provides a thought-provoking perspective on creating organisations that are both high-performing and human-centred.
