Karen Blackett OBE

Karen Blackett CBE, UK President of WPP, has spent over 30 years leading at the highest level, managing $2 billion in revenue and 13,000 people across WPP's second largest market. A former MediaCom EMEA Chief Operating Officer and non-executive director for Diageo, she specialises in brand reinvention, operational excellence and organisational transformation.

Large organisations often struggle to sustain growth when faced with market disruption, cultural disconnection, and the pressure to deliver both brand relevance and commercial performance at scale. Karen Blackett CBE is UK President of WPP, the world's largest marketing services group, where she is responsible for driving growth across a market of 13,000 people and billions in revenue. A proven turnaround leader with over 30 years of experience at the highest level, Karen specialises in brand reinvention, operational transformation, and building vibrant cultures that deliver sustained business results.

Karen's career is defined by her ability to lead large, complex, and diverse businesses through periods of significant change. As former CEO of GroupM UK, she navigated the business through the global pandemic and the cultural reckoning following the killing of George Floyd, demonstrating leadership that balanced commercial rigour with purpose and humanity. Previously, as MediaCom's EMEA Chief Operating Officer, she gained extensive multinational experience managing operations across diverse markets. Karen's track record centres on managing top-line and bottom-line performance with precision, re-engaging consumers with brands, and identifying new growth audiences and markets. Her leadership has consistently resulted in revenue growth, operational excellence, and energised teams. Beyond her executive roles, Karen serves as a non-executive director for Diageo, an FTSE 100 company, and sits on the advisory council of SXSW and the board of The British Fashion Council. She received an OBE in 2014, topped the Power List as the first businesswoman to reach number one, and in 2022 was honoured with the Power List's Outstanding Contribution Award in recognition of her exceptional achievements.

Karen helps organisations understand how to transform brands and cultures in ways that create tangible commercial impact. Her insights equip leaders with practical strategies for driving growth, managing complexity, and building inclusive, high-performing teams that deliver results under pressure. Audiences leave with a clear understanding of how to balance brand purpose with profit, how to lead through disruption, and how to unlock value by connecting authentically with consumers and talent. Karen's approach is grounded in real-world experience and focused on outcomes that matter: stronger brands, healthier cultures, and sustainable business success.