Karen Blackett CBE Joins Sky Diversity Advisory Council

Sky has appointed Karen Blackett CBE to its Diversity Advisory Council (DAC), with her first meeting taking place this month.

Blackett brings broad senior leadership experience across the creative, media and advertising sectors, underpinned by a long-standing focus on inclusive growth. Most recently, she served as President of WPP UK, overseeing a workforce of 13,000 and a $2bn P&L. She also held the role of CEO of GroupM UK, WPP’s media investment arm, guiding the organisation through the Covid‑19 pandemic and a major transformation programme to future‑proof the business.

She now works as a non‑executive director and consultant on brand transformation and growth, advising organisations across the public, private and private equity sectors. Her current portfolio includes Diageo PLC and the British Fashion Council, where she supports leaders in delivering long‑term, sustainable growth.

A prominent public figure, Blackett has been Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth for eight years, becoming the first alumnus to return to the institution in this capacity. She is also a founding trustee of the UK national Black civil rights organisation The Black Equity Organisation (BEO), alongside David Lammy MP, Dame Vivian Hunt, David Olusoga OBE, Kwame Kwei‑Armah OBE and Ric Lewis.

Her impact on business and society has been widely recognised, including multiple honorary doctorates, the Freedom of the City of London and a CBE for services to advertising and the creative industries. She brings insight, energy and constructive challenge as Sky continues to strengthen its approach to diversity, equity and inclusion.

She said: "I am thrilled to join Sky's Diversity Advisory Council. Having worked with Sky in an Executive capacity since 2004, I know the organisation truly does live its philosophy of 'Believe in Better', and this focus transcends to the talent and partners Sky invests in and works with. I am excited to be part of Sky's continued commitment to ensuring it uses its influence and voice to create a better world."

Her appointment coincides with the departure of Baroness Prashar and Ndidi Okezie, who are stepping down from the DAC after five years. In that time, they supported the delivery of Sky's partnership with Sir Lewis Hamilton's charity Mission 44, working across education and the wider youth sector to address school exclusions. Insights and recommendations from this work have contributed to government policy commitments that will help drive inclusion for young people. They also played a key role in Sky surpassing its diversity and inclusion objectives, helping to build a representative, inclusive company that uses its platform to tackle inequality.