Joel Walker
Speaker

Joel Walker

Co-founder, The Knowledge Group

Co-founder of The Knowledge Group, a sourcing firm for BPO and CX services. Spent ten years in Vodafone’s global procurement team buying outsourced customer care, and earlier led offshore programmes at Orange UK and Cable & Wireless.

25+ Years in contact centers and outsourcing
55,000 Outsourced agents under contracts his team managed at Vodafone
2,000 Staff in Orange UK's offshore operation in India, which he built from zero

Areas of expertise

BPO Procurement
Contact Center Outsourcing
Commercial Models & Contracts
Offshore & Nearshore Operations
Supplier Management
Location Strategy

Joel Walker is a co-founder of The Knowledge Group, a sourcing firm for BPO and customer experience services, and Managing Director International at Maistro Group. He is based in Luxembourg.

Joel spent ten years in Vodafone’s global procurement team, first leading the sourcing of outsourced customer care, telesales, and collections across its markets, then all corporate services spend. Earlier, he led offshore programs at Orange UK and Cable & Wireless.

Joel is a frequent judge and speaker at outsourcing industry events and was named a Vodafone Global Hero for commercial innovation.

International Directors Programme, Board Leadership

INSEAD · 2022

MBA, Outsource Theory

University of the West of England · 2003–2006

Bachelor of Arts, International Business

University of the West of England · 1995–1998

Co-Founder & Managing Director, Platform Services

The Knowledge Group · May 2021 – Present

Global Head of Procurement, Corporate Services

Vodafone · April 2019 – October 2021 · Luxembourg

Global Head of Customer Operations Sourcing

Vodafone · January 2016 – March 2019 · Luxembourg

Head of Supplier Strategy & Implementation

Cable & Wireless · June 2007 – December 2011 · Bracknell, United Kingdom

Head of Outsource & Offshore Operations

Orange · November 2005 – March 2007 · Bristol, United Kingdom

Outsourcing to Central and Eastern Europe: A Data-Informed Review

Simply Contact Webinar

2026 Online