Paula Anne Vennells, CBE, the accomplished British ex-businesswoman and Anglican priest, was born in 1959 and spent her formative years in Denton, Lancashire.
Advertisement
Despite her notable public presence, details about Paula Vennells’ parents are not publicly available. Her educational journey began with a funded place at the Manchester High School for Girls, an all-girls private school in Manchester.
Paula then pursued her academic interests in Russian and French at the University of Bradford, graduating in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.
Paula Vennells embarked on her professional career as a graduate trainee at Unilever in 1981. Over the years, she gained valuable experience working with prominent companies such as L’Oréal, Dixons Retail, Argos, and Whitbread.
In 2007, she joined the Post Office as the group network director. Her career trajectory within the Post Office saw her ascend to the position of chief executive officer (CEO) on April 1, 2012.
Advertisement

During her tenure as CEO, Paula Vennells played a pivotal role in transforming the financial landscape of the Post Office. The organization, which was previously experiencing annual losses of £120 million, under her leadership, transitioned to a profitable entity.
In February 2019, Paula Vennells announced her decision to step down from her role at the Post Office. Subsequently, in April of the same year, she assumed the position of chair at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. However, she resigned from this role in 2021.
While Paula Vennells’ professional achievements and career milestones are well-documented, she maintains a degree of privacy regarding her family background, particularly details about her parents. This reserved approach allows her to focus on her contributions to various sectors, balancing a successful career with a commitment to her personal life.

Leave a Reply