Sky names Diversity Advisory Council
January 11, 2021
June 2020, Sky announced a series of commitments to support anti-racism and improve diversity and inclusion across the company. Sky committed to invest £10million per year across its markets for each of the next three years to improve representation and progression of minority groups. The business also committed to put targets in place to measure progression of under-represented groups throughout the organisation.
In a step towards delivering these commitments, Sky has appointed seven leaders in diversity and inclusion to a new advisory body. Sky’s new Diversity Advisory Council will be responsible for advising and guiding the business on issues of diversity, including using its voice externally, and helping to maintain progress towards becoming a more inclusive organisation.
Members of the group are experts in their field and represent views from a variety of backgrounds. Their unique perspectives will add value to the way Sky steers diversity and inclusion as it creates new plans to improve representation and progression of minority groups, especially at a senior level. The group will work alongside Sky’s Diversity Action Group, a diverse cross-section of Sky’s workforce chaired by Stephen van Rooyen, EVP & CEO UK & Europe.
The newly announced members of Sky’s Diversity Advisory Council are:
- Caroline Casey – Founder, The Valuable 500
- Kanya King – Founder & CEO, MOBO Organisation
- Piers Linney – Entrepreneur
- Leon Mann – Founder, The Black Collective of Media in Sport
- Ndidi Okezie – CEO, UK Youth
- Baroness Usha Prashar – Crossbench Member, House of Lords
- Roland White – Global Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Microsoft
In addition to announcing the members of its new Diversity Advisory Council, the company has also confirmed the appointment of Sky’s Chief Talent, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Denise Peart who joins Sky this month.
Reporting to Debbie Klein, Sky’s Group, Marketing, Corporate Affairs and People Officer, Denise Peart will be responsible for developing and delivering Sky’s Group Talent strategy and work with the Group Executive to drive Sky’s ambition to become a more diverse and inclusive organisation.
Debbie Klein, Sky’s Group Chief Marketing, Corporate Affairs and People Officer said: “It’s vital that Sky pulls from a wide and varied pool of experts to advise on improving diversity and inclusion, and help us use our voice to affect change. These experienced, industry leading advocates will give us important new perspectives as we work towards becoming an even more inclusive organisation. Our new Chief Talent, Diversity and Inclusion Officer also brings over 25 years of global experience to our work in 2021 and beyond. I’m delighted Denise is joining us to help make our vision of more inclusive, diverse and skilled workforce a reality.”