Lou Cordwell OBE | Founder & CEO, magneticNorth

Lou is CEO of Manchester based digital design studio, magneticNorth.

Founded in 2000, the company quickly established an international reputation with an award winning client portfolio. Today, the studio continues to work with a wide range of companies – from BBC to Hermes – helping them to meet and shape evolving audience needs by putting digital at the heart of their businesses.

Alongside the day job, she is Co-Chair, Lead for Communications, Digital Broadcasting and Skills Fund, and SME Representative for Greater Manchester’s Local Enterprise Partnership, and Chair of Design Manchester. Lou is also currently leading on Manchester’s Design Manifesto, which aims to enable a design-led delivery of the city region’s strategy and grow Manchester’s reputation as a leading international design city.

She is also a founding investor in AllBright and a passionate campaigner for gender equality in business and the tech industry.

Lou was awarded an OBE in the 2018 New Year’s Honours for services to the creative and digital economy.