Karen Blackett

Karen Tracey Blackett (born 7 August 1971) works in the advertising industry and is the CEO of Group M. She became the Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth in October 2017.
Early life.
Blackett grew up in Reading with her mother who was a nurse, her bus conductor father and her sister. Karen Blackett is originally from the Caribbean, and her mum moved over to London to work in the Royal Berkshire Hospital as a nurse in the sixties. She grew up around a lot of people from Barbados and other West Indian islands.
Education.
Blackett went to the University of Portsmouth, she graduated in 1992 with a degree in Geography.
Work.
After university, Blackett applied for a job advertised as a media auditor with CIA MediaNetwork. "I got through the first interview and then they asked me to give a presentation on the pros and cons of Sky TV. I didn't get that job but they suggested I talk to someone in media planning. I think it's because I was so gobby." In October 1995 she continued her career by joining Zenith Media as a Senior Communications Planner and Buyer working on the prestigious BT account. In 1995, Blackett was promoted to the Board of Directors of the newly merged MediaCom and The Media Business Group Board. Blackett was later head-hunted by The Media Business Group. In January 2003, Blackett moved from her Business Director role to become the Marketing Director of MediaCom, then, in 2008, becoming MediaCom's Chief Operation Director for EMEA. Blackett was promoted to CEO of the UK Office in January 2011.
Working with Tim Campbell MBE and The National Apprentice Service, in 2012, Blackett launched an apprenticeship scheme at Mediacom for women ages 18–24. In 2015 Blackett was promoted to Chair of MediaCom UK, and in 2016 named as the company's President.
Blackett has also worked with a life coach for over ten years as she stated in an interview, who, as she claims, has helped her both professionally and personally.
Awards and recognition.
In 2003 and 2005, she was voted by Management Today as one of the 35 Most Powerful Women Under 35 in the UK. Blackett has featured on the UK's 100 most influential black women 5 times, and received an OBE in the 2014 Birthday Honours for services to media and communications.
Blackett has also become the first businesswoman to top the Powerlist in 2015. She was on 2015 Radio 4 Women's Hour Power List of The Top Ten Influencers.
Personal life.
Blackett is a single mother to Isaac, born 2010, and lives in Chiswick.