Jason Gissing is a British entrepreneur best known as one of the co-founders of Ocado, a leading British online supermarket and technology company.
Early Life and Education
Gissing studied Law at the University of Oxford. Upon graduation, he pursued a career in investment banking, gaining experience that would later prove crucial in his entrepreneurial ventures.Career
Goldman Sachs
Prior to co-founding Ocado, Gissing worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs. It was during his time there that he formed professional relationships with Tim Steiner and Jonathan Faiman, who would become his co-founders at Ocado.Ocado
In April 2000, Gissing co-founded Ocado with Tim Steiner and Jonathan Faiman. The trio conceived the idea of an online-only grocery retailer, aiming to leverage technology to create an efficient direct-to-consumer model. Gissing played a pivotal role in the company's development, serving as its Finance Director and later as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO).As CFO, Gissing was instrumental in securing the necessary funding for Ocado's ambitious capital-intensive model, managing its financial operations, and overseeing its strategic growth. He played a key role in the company's initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange in July 2010, which marked a significant milestone for the company. Under his financial leadership, Ocado developed and scaled its proprietary automated warehousing and logistics technology, which eventually became a core part of its business, licensed to other international retailers.
Gissing stepped down from his executive role in 2013 and from the board of directors in early 2014, though he continued to serve in an advisory capacity for a period thereafter.
Post-Ocado Activities
Since departing from his executive role at Ocado, Gissing has remained active in the business world, often taking on advisory or non-executive director roles. He has been involved in various entrepreneurial and investment activities, typically focusing on technology, retail, and disruptive business models.References
- "Ocado: The inside story of Britain's most successful online supermarket". The Telegraph. 2010-07-25.
- "Ocado co-founder to leave board". BBC News. 2013-10-18.
- "Ocado Group plc Annual Report 2013". (Company filings for board changes).