Jonny Combe is an accomplished business leader and speaker, best known for his pioneering work in digital innovation and sustainable mobility. As CEO of PayByPhone, he has overseen significant growth while positioning the company at the forefront of modern payment and transport solutions. Recognised for his dynamic leadership and ability to inspire transformation, Jonny is regularly invited to speak to audiences eager to understand how to thrive in fast-changing industries. His engaging and practical approach ensures every session leaves listeners motivated and equipped to apply fresh thinking in their own organisations.
Jonny’s career began at MINI, where he worked as a Marketing Executive before being accepted onto the BMW Graduate Programme. He quickly demonstrated both strategic insight and strong leadership, taking on roles including Customer Service Manager for BMW, Customer Service Support Manager for BMW Financial Services, and later Corporate Sales Manager and Customer Strategy Manager for BMW Group. His career accelerated rapidly, and by the age of 28, Jonny made headlines as the youngest employee ever appointed General Manager within BMW Financial Services, a role that marked him out as one of the automotive industry’s rising stars.
In subsequent years, Jonny’s remit expanded to become General Manager for Environment, Real Estate, Mobility and Innovation at BMW Manufacturing. In this role, he was instrumental in launching groundbreaking initiatives such as the BMW Innovation Lab and the BMW Intrapreneur Lab, both of which created new avenues for growth and collaboration within the company. His leadership contributed to an impressive 30% business growth, while positioning BMW as an industry leader in innovation. Alongside his executive career, Jonny has been recognised publicly as one of the UK’s Top Ten Business Gamechangers in 2020, with his insights featured in respected outlets including The Scotsman, The Economist and HuffPost.
Jonny is hired as a speaker because he brings first-hand experience of driving change in complex organisations, paired with the ability to make innovation practical and accessible. He has delivered impactful talks for global names such as CASS Business School, National Grid, Barclays and Disney. With a blend of storytelling, humour and actionable strategies, Jonny inspires audiences to embrace creativity, rethink challenges and build the confidence to achieve ambitious growth.
