Karen Blackett

Karen Tracey Blackett (born 7 August 1971) is a British Barbadian businesswoman who 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 and education Blackett was born on 7 August 1971. She grew up in Reading, Berkshire, with her mother, who was a nurse, her bus conductor father and her sister. She is originally from the Caribbean and her mother moved to London to work in the Royal Berkshire Hospital as a nurse in the 1960s. Blackett grew up around a lot of people from Barbados and other West Indian islands.

Blackett studied geography at the University of Portsmouth and graduated in 1992 with a degree.

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, she was promoted to the board of directors of the newly merged MediaCom and The Media Business Group Board. She was later head-hunted by The Media Business Group.

Working with Tim Campbell MBE and The National Apprentice Service, in 2012, Blackett launched an apprenticeship scheme at Mediacom for women aged 18 to 24. and, in 2016, named as the company's president.

In October 2017, Blackett became the Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth. The chancellor acts as the ceremonial head of the university. In April 2026, it was announced that she would be stepping down from the post in "early 2027".

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 five times, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2014 Birthday Honours for services to the media communications industry.

Blackett was the first businesswoman to top the Powerlist in 2015.