Joe Hurd

Joe Hurd is a trusted advisor to the C-suite known for his broad experience, judgment and comfort with ambiguity. His secret weapons in the boardroom are working with management to drive topline growth, navigate change, implement technology transformation at scale, leverage data and AI to create business advantage, and foster culture through strategic employee engagement. At Lloyd's of London, Joe weighs in on tech transformation and is the designated Culture Champion on the board. At Trustpilot Group plc, he provides constructive challenge on US go-to-market strategy and is the board member responsible for workforce engagement. At Hays plc, he chairs the Sustainability Committee and advises the CEO of the US business on growth. Having lived and worked in England, Australia, Japan, Korea and the United States, Joe's pragmatic, nuanced global approach and deep cultural understanding helps him effectively navigate complex global markets and corporate conference rooms.

Known for his T-shaped leadership style, Joe is a quick study who thoughtfully elevates boardroom conversations with insight from a career delivering strategic growth through partnerships and M&A, international expansion, informed risk taking, and balancing multiple stakeholder interests, critical drivers of long-term shareholder return. He is currently an Operating Partner at SOSV, an early-stage deep tech venture fund, where he works with top-performing CEOs to scale their operations. Previously, Joe led end-to-end revenue strategy planning at Facebook for Facebook Video, Messenger and Marketplaces (billion dollar products); and he launched a new TV network at Gannett Broadcasting covering 31% of US households. In 2009, he joined the Obama Administration as a political appointee at the Commerce Department, where he delivered the first-ever Report to the President on the National Export Initiative. Earlier in his career, Joe built and ran the global P&Ls for Silicon Valley-based startups VideoEgg ($130M revenue, 40 person team, acquired) and Friendster ($30M revenue, teams in 5 countries, acquired), held leadership positions in Tokyo and Sydney at AOL/Time Warner, and practiced corporate law in London at Linklaters.

A sought-after speaker and recognized expert in AI, data, board governance and culture and geopolitical risk, Joe currently sits on the Nasdaq Center for Board Excellence Advisory Council, the 2024 & 2025 Selection Committees for 50/50 Women on Boards, and is a facilitator for Santa Clara University's Black Corporate Board Readiness program. He frequently shares fresh perspectives on panels and podcasts hosted by Nasdaq, Diligent, Deloitte, the Private Directors Association, and the National Association of Corporate Directors. Joe recently was named as one of Savoy Magazine's 2024 Most Influential Corporate Directors, and he received the 2022 Culture Shifting Award for his board work. He enjoys running, traveling (50 states; 63 countries), and reading historical nonfiction.