Karen Blackett OBE

Karen is a proven business leader with a track record in creating vibrant cultures, energising teams, and consistently delivering business growth and success. She is UK President for WPP, the world’s largest marketing services group and responsible for driving growth in WPP’s second largest market of 10,000 people

Former GroupM UK CEO, Karen managed the business at a critical time during the COVID global pandemic and the subsequent impact of the killing of George Floyd.

In June 2014, Karen received an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours and topped the Power List, being the first businesswoman to come in at number 1.  In November 2022 Karen received
Power List’s Outstanding Contribution Award in recognition of her exceptional achievements. Karen has recently been appointed NED for Diageo (FTSE Top 100 company) and was a former NED of The Cabinet Office.

Karen is a single mum of a beautiful 12-year-old boy, Isaac.  The daughter of 2 Bajan parents, Karen regularly returns to her spiritual “home” Barbados and spends her weekends enjoying the outdoors and walking her two adorable dogs Bob Marley and Missy Elliot.