Francesca is a Portfolio Non-Executive Director with expertise in Marketing and 30+ years’ experience in directing in both blue-chip companies and start-ups in the Digital / Retail / FMCG / Leisure Travel industries and works as a Mentor to several digital entrepreneurs and senior executives.

Currently, Francesca is a Non-Executive Director on 5 boards; Henderson High Income Trust plc., Air France, Marshall Motor Holdings plc., CT Automotive plc. and The AIC. She Chairs the ‘NED Talks’ workshop program for Senior Women at WACL ltd and she works as a Mentor where her clients are predominately senior leaders facing career junctions, women who want to be NEDs but also start-ups in the consumer tech arena. Previously, she has also served on the Boards of Share plc, Good Energy Group plc and We Are Vista ltd. 

Prior to going plural, Francesca worked as Global Business Development Director and UK General Manager at Cheapflights Media for 4 years. She has extensive experience encompassing consultancy with McKinsey & Co, marketing with PepsiCo, general management in a range of blue-chip travel companies including STA Travel, ThornEMI, Thomas Cook and Going Places, through to entrepreneurial activity working with VCs to set up, establish and exit internet-based travel businesses such as IfYouTravel.com.

She devotes considerable time to mentoring and facilitating career development opportunities for women as well as actively promoting the commercial benefits of gender equality at work to relevant audiences. Francesca also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School as a graduate of Geneva University in Political Science and International Relations.