{"id":46444,"date":"2026-05-07T10:23:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T14:23:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leadingauthorities.com\/?post_type=speaker&#038;p=46444"},"modified":"2026-06-22T23:40:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T03:40:41","slug":"karen-blackett","status":"publish","type":"speaker","link":"https:\/\/www.leadingauthorities.com\/uk\/speakers\/karen-blackett","title":{"rendered":"Karen Blackett"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>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 the former UK President for WPP, the world\u2019s largest marketing services group, and responsible for driving growth in WPP\u2019s second largest market of 13,000 people.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>In June 2014, Karen received an OBE in the Queen&#8217;s Birthday honours and topped the Power List, being the first businesswoman to come in at number 1.  In November 2022, Karen received<br \/>\nPower List\u2019s Outstanding Contribution Award in recognition of her continued exceptional achievements. In June 2023, Karen was appointed a NED for Diageo (a FTSE Top 10 company), and was a former NED of The Cabinet Office.  In October 2023, Karen was honoured by INvolve \u2013 The Inclusion People\u2019s List and came in at #1 for the Top 100 Women Executives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&#8230;] <br \/><a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leadingauthorities.com\/uk\/speakers\/karen-blackett\">Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1836,"featured_media":46715,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"continent":[371,19093],"gender":[372],"hidden-keyword":[],"location":[21497],"topic":[57,19096,19102],"speaker-type":[86,89],"class_list":["post-46444","speaker","type-speaker","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","continent-europe-int","continent-north-america","gender-female-int","location-united-kingdom","topic-growth","topic-inspiration-motivation","topic-leadership","speaker-type-african-american-speakers","speaker-type-ceos"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Karen Blackett | Keynote Speaker | LAI Speakers Bureau<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leadingauthorities.com\/uk\/speakers\/karen-blackett\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Karen Blackett\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Karen is a proven business leader with a track record in creating vibrant cultures, energising teams, and consistently delivering business growth and success. 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