Helen Cannon

Helen Cannon is the Founder and CEO of ISON Group, one of Europe’s fastest-growing travel management businesses. She founded ISON in 2013 after experiencing how traditional corporate structures excluded talented professionals seeking flexibility. Determined not to compromise her ambition or family life, she built a different model, one based on autonomy, trust and measurable performance. That conviction turned a start-up into a global growth story. Between 2020 and 2024, one of the most volatile periods in the travel industry’s history, Helen led ISON through 550% growth. By 2025, revenue reached £67.5 million and the team grew to over 120 people across five international regions, all without external investment. The business has achieved consecutive rankings in The Sunday Times 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies and the Financial Times FT1000. Today, more than two-thirds of ISON’s workforce are women and nearly half are over 45. Helen hires for expertise and mindset rather than geo