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Karen Blackett is a proven business leader with a track record in creating vibrant cultures, energising teams, and consistently delivering business growth and success. She is the former UK President for WPP, the worldтАЩs largest marketing services group, and responsible for driving growth in WPPтАЩs second largest market of 13,000 people.
As former GroupM UK CEO, Karen was selected to turnaround the business over 2.5 years at a critical time, during the COVID global pandemic and the subsequent impact of the killing of George Floyd.
Karen also has extensive multinational experience having served as EMEA Chief Operating Officer, with key priority markets being Russia, Turkey, France, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Czech Republic, South Africa and Israel. During her 3 years in role, strengthening the EMEA network, MediaCom moved from the 5th to 3rd largest EMEA network media agency.
In June 2014, Karen Blackett received an OBE in the QueenтАЩs Birthday honours and topped the Power List, being the first businesswoman to come in at Number 1.
As a long-term champion of the Creative Industry sector in the UK, since 2016 Karen has been a NED for Creative UK, a not-for-profit organisation that champions, connects, supports & invests in creative people & businesses.
Karen was appointed Chancellor of The University of Portsmouth in 2017, the first Alumna to become Chancellor.
Karen founded The Black Equity Organisation in 2021, alongside David Lammy MP, David Olusoga OBE, Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE, Ric Lewis and Dame Vivian Hunt. BEO is an independent, national Black civil rights organisation created to dismantle systemic racism in Britain, drive generational change and deliver better lived experiences for Black people across the country.
In June 2022, Karen Blackett was appointed a NED for Diageo (a FTSE Top 10 company) and was a former NED of The Cabinet Office. In November 2022, Karen received Power ListтАЩs Outstanding Contribution Award in recognition of her continued exceptional achievements.
Karen was honoured by INvolve тАУ The Inclusion PeopleтАЩs List and came in at #1 for the Top 100 Women Executives in October 2023.
In April 2024, Karen Blackett was awarded Freedom of the City of London, and in January 2025 received a CBE for services to Advertising and The Creative Industries in the KingтАЩs New Years honours.
