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Will Greenwood

Chief Customer Officer UK

Afiniti

London, UK

Will Greenwood

Michael Greenwald

Amazon Web Services

J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Will’s Biography

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Will Greenwood MBE is a former England rugby player who thrived at the position of centre.

With a successful career lasting 11 years, Will played for Harlequins and Leicester Tigers, both highly respected clubs. He also excelled at international level for England, compiling 55 caps and proudly played a part in the historic 2003 World Cup victory over Australia. In addition, Greenwood also competed for the British & Irish Lions during multiple tours, displaying great leadership whilst performing on the grandest stage.

Following his retirement, Will established himself as a journalist, presenter and analyst for Sky Sports and The Telegraph. He is also a successful businessman, having set up Legend Holidays & Events, a company providing family holiday experiences and corporate events, and the Sports Fest family sporting festival. His academic background facilitated his transition into the world of business. Prior to the commencement of his playing career, Will graduated from Durham University with a degree in economics.

Aside from his sporting and business ventures, Will is a... Will Greenwood MBE is a former England rugby player who thrived at the position of centre.

With a successful career lasting 11 years, Will played for Harlequins and Leicester Tigers, both highly respected clubs. He also excelled at international level for England, compiling 55 caps and proudly played a part in the historic 2003 World Cup victory over Australia. In addition, Greenwood also competed for the British & Irish Lions during multiple tours, displaying great leadership whilst performing on the grandest stage.

Following his retirement, Will established himself as a journalist, presenter and analyst for Sky Sports and The Telegraph. He is also a successful businessman, having set up Legend Holidays & Events, a company providing family holiday experiences and corporate events, and the Sports Fest family sporting festival. His academic background facilitated his transition into the world of business. Prior to the commencement of his playing career, Will graduated from Durham University with a degree in economics.

Aside from his sporting and business ventures, Will is a keen charity supporter, particularly of organisations that address premature birth and child bereavement. A patron of Child Bereavement UK, Will walked to the North Pole in 2018, in memory of his son Freddie and in the process, raised an astonishing £750,000 for Borne’s Research.

Will currently serves as Chief Customer Officer for the UK arm of Afiniti, a software company with the development of artificial intelligence at its core. moreless

Will’s Newsfeed

The Telegraph

Will Greenwood goes inside England training: 'We were Fiat Puntos compared to these F1 machines'

Will Greenwood shares his excitement ahead of the opening round Six Nations clash between England and Scotland having attended the England rugby team's training session at Pennyhill Park.

Virgin

What business can learn from sport

Virgin Books share an extract from World Class, in which Will Greenwood and Ben Fennell explore the ideal qualities of top leaders in their respective fields.

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Will’s Background

Afiniti

Chief Customer Officer UK

Nov 2020 - Present

London, UK

Founded in Washington DC in 2005, Afiniti is an American multinational data and software company. The company's primary focus is developing artificial intelligence for use within customer call centres.

Sky Sports

Rugby Commentator

2006 - Aug 2021

London, UK

Established in 1990 and operated by Sky, Sky Sports is a selection of British subscription television channels. The channel leads the way in sports television throughout the UK and Ireland, and has played an integral part in sports commercialisation, encouraging the Premier League's formation in 1992

The Telegraph

Sports Journalist

Jan 2006 - Present

London, UK

Founded by Arthur B. Sleigh in 1855 as Daily Telegraph & Courier, the newspaper is published in London by Telegraph Media Group. With an international reputation for quality, the paper's motto "was, is and will be" features in every edition and has done so since April 1958. The Telegraph has the largest circulation for a broadsheet newspaper in the UK.

The British and Irish Lions

Rugby Player

1997 - 2005

London, UK

The British and Irish Lions is a team of rugby union players comprised of athletes – usually International players – from the national sides of the British Isles; Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland. Southern Hemisphere tours can be traced back to 1888.

English National Rugby Union Team

Rugby Player

1997 - 2004

London, UK

The England national rugby union team, which can trace its history back to 1871, compete in the annual Six Nations tournament. Winning on 28 occasions, including 13 Grand Slams, England are the most successful team in the competition's history. Traditionally donning white shirts, with a red rose embroidered on the chest, they are the only Northern Hemisphere team to have won the World Cup.

Leicester Tigers

Rugby Player

1996 - 2000

Leicester, UK

Established in 1880, Leicester Tigers play their home matches at Welford Road Stadium. European Champions in consecutive seasons in the early 2000s, the club have won a highly respectable 20 major trophies, including a record 10 English Championships. The Tigers hold the record for successive Premiership finals appearances (9) and are one of four teams never to have suffered relegation.

Harlequins RFC

Rugby Player

1994 - 1996

London, UK

Harlequins was founded in 1866 (although the first recorded game was not until 1867) as Hampstead Football Club and renamed in 1870. Founding members of the Rugby Football Union, "Quins", as they are affectionately known, won the European Challenge Cup in 2011 and a historic first Premiership title in 2012. The team plays its home matches at Twickenham Stoop, London.

HSBC

Graduate Trainee

Jul 1994 - Jul 1996

London, UK

HSBC is a British multinational investment bank and financial services holding company. Founded in 1865 in British Hong Kong, its acronym translates as "The Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank". HSBC is Europe's largest bank and owns 3,900 offices in 65 countries throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, North America and South America.

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Will’s Gallery

Will Greenwood on broadcasting duties ahead of the Six Nations clash between England and Wales at Twickenham.

Will Greenwood inspires the next generation in his ambassadorial role for Land Rover in Tokyo, during an Impact Beyond Rugby event in conjunction with the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Will Greenwood operating for Sky Sports at the Quilter International match between England and South Africa at Twickenham.

Will Greenwood fends off the advances of Wales’ Shane Williams in a Six Nations contest at Twickenham.

Will Greenwood poses alongside former England teammate Jonny Wilkinson at the launch of 2015’s Rugby World Cup Trophy tour.

Former England centre Will Greenwood talks to injured marines at the Help for Heroes game at Twickenham.

Will Greenwood and Lawrence Dallaglio proudly show off the Rugby World Cup at the victory parade after England’s historic defeat of Australia in 2003.

Will Greenwood on broadcasting duties ahead of the Six Nations clash between England and Wales at Twickenham.

Will Greenwood inspires the next generation in his ambassadorial role for Land Rover in Tokyo, during an Impact Beyond Rugby event in conjunction with the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Will Greenwood operating for Sky Sports at the Quilter International match between England and South Africa at Twickenham.

Will Greenwood fends off the advances of Wales’ Shane Williams in a Six Nations contest at Twickenham.

Will Greenwood poses alongside former England teammate Jonny Wilkinson at the launch of 2015’s Rugby World Cup Trophy tour.

Former England centre Will Greenwood talks to injured marines at the Help for Heroes game at Twickenham.

Will Greenwood and Lawrence Dallaglio proudly show off the Rugby World Cup at the victory parade after England’s historic defeat of Australia in 2003.

Other Business Interests

Legend Holidays and Events

Director

May 2011 - Present

London, UK

Hosted by some of the biggest names in sport, Legend Holiday and Events offers guests one-of-a-kind luxury experiences, family holidays and sports events. The company aim is simple – to create legendary moments that family, friends and colleagues can treasure.

Canterbury

Ambassador

Stockport, UK

Founded in 1904, Canterbury of New Zealand is a UK based sports clothing company specialising in rugby. The brand's name derives from the location where the company was established, Canterbury, New Zealand. Its appeal gathered momentum having produced kit for the All Blacks and the company logo, featuring three kiwi birds, represents its three founding members.

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Philanthropy

Borne

Patron

Jan 2002 - Present

London, UK

A medical research aid organisation, Borne is based in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital’s Imperial College facility. Borne’s aim is identifying causes of premature birth to prevent disability, to save lives, and to create lifelong health for babies and their mothers.

Child Bereavement Charity

Patron

Jan 2002 - Present

London, UK

Child Bereavement UK supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies, is dying or when a child is facing bereavement. It was founded in 1994 as The Child Bereavement Trust by Jenni Thomas OBE, an influential figure within the NHS who worked with the charity throughout its first 15 years.

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Media

Management Today's Workplace Evolution Podcast: Will Greenwood and Ben Fennell

Podcast

Sep 2021

Authors Will Greenwood and Ben Fennell talk to Business Psychologist, Michael Costello, about their new book "World Class: Lead, Learn and Grow Like a Champion".

On The Ball

Media Appearance - "Will Greenwood tells the story about the time he almost died playing for the British & Irish Lions"

Dec 2019

Galway, IE

Appearing as part of a Heineken Rugby Club Roadshow, Greenwood, along with former Ireland player Brian O'Driscoll, detail various experiences that occurred throughout their career. Among the many tales relived, Will extensively explains the harrowing time he almost lost his life after a freak tackle whilst playing for the British and Irish Lions.

Publications

World Class: How to Lead, Learn and Grow like a Champion

Co-Author

Sep 2021

London, UK

Written alongside Ben Fennell, who boasts extensive experience of maximising growth for the world's biggest brands, Will explores the behaviours required to achieve world-class performance. With fascinating insight provided by fellow leaders including Rio Ferdinand and Sir Clive Woodward, the title serves as an invaluable reference for securing success in the worlds of both sport and business.

Bulgarian Bruises, Bloodgate and Other Stories: The Changing World of Rugby

Author

May 2013

London, UK

Achieving about all there is to achieve in the game of rugby, Will offers fascinating insight, from hilarious character sketches to technical discussion and recollections of that historic 2003 World Cup win with England. Touching upon various aspects of the sport, both grassroots level and featuring as a professional, this title is a must for rugby fanatics.

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Awards & Endorsements

Durham University

Honorary Graduate

May 2004

Durham, UK

Will's outstanding talent and achievements in World Rugby was recognised by his alma mater with this award of an honorary degree.

Will’s Education

University of Durham

Economics

1991 - 1994

Sedbergh School

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