Red Funnel appoints Chief Financial Officer

Red Funnel has appointed Jo Harrison as its new Chief Financial Officer, bringing a wealth of expertise from across the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

Jo joins from Time Out Group, where she has helped guide the business through its next phase of growth. She brings extensive leadership skills from senior finance roles at some of the UK’s best-known brands, including Prezzo, Hotel Chocolat and JD Wetherspoon.

From June, Jo will play a key role in shaping the next chapter of Red Funnel. Her experience leading finance teams in major consumer brands will enhance Red Funnel’s performance, support its investment plans and ensure it is well placed to deliver a sustainable future.

Fran Collins, Chief Executive Officer at Red Funnel, said: “Jo will be a fantastic addition to the Red Funnel team. She brings a great depth of financial leadership and a proven track record in complex, multi-site, customer-focused businesses.

“Since our ownership change at the end of last year, we’ve already started transforming Red Funnel, building on solid foundations and creating an exciting future focussed around our island and non-island-based customers and potential customers. This reflects our ambition to play our part in the growth of the Isle of Wight as a destination of choice to live, visit and/or invest in. Jo’s experience will help us continue to build momentum in the delivery of our transformation and investment plans.”  

Jo Harrison added: “Red Funnel is a business with a proud history which delivers a vital service for the Isle of Wight and its communities. It also has huge scope to expand leisure and corporate visitors to the Island, as well as freight services. I’m excited to be joining the business at such an important time under its new ownership and look forward to working with the team to build on the progress already underway and help strengthen the business for the future.”

Sean Cleary, who joined Red Funnel as Interim Head of Finance, has provided leadership and continuity since he joined in 2023. He will remain with Red Funnel for a short period following Jo’s arrival to support a smooth handover. 
 

-ENDS-
 

Notes to the editors

About Red Funnel:
Red Funnel is the original Isle of Wight ferry company with roots tracing back to 1820. Based in the UK port of Southampton, Red Funnel carries 2.3m passengers and over 800,000 vehicles on its ferry route between the UK port of Southampton and East Cowes and 1.1m passengers between Southampton and West Cowes on its Red Jet Hi-Speed service.

In addition to ferry travel, Red Funnel is the only cross-Solent operator to offer ferry inclusive bonded holiday accommodation, attraction tickets, festival and event tickets and activity packages. Sub-brands include ‘Red Jet’ (the Hi-Speed passenger only ferry service serving West Cowes) and its on board café, ‘ReFuel’.  

Red Funnel is also proud to sponsor and support most of the Island’s premier events including the IW Festival, Cowes Week, Wight Proms, and Walk the Wight alongside a wide range of other community and niche interest events. 

For more information, visit www.redfunnel.co.uk.