| Vanessa Kingori | |
| Birth Place: | Kenya |
| Known For: | Google Managing Director. Formerly |
| Education: | Royal Holloway, University of London |
| Employer: | [Google] |
| Relatives: | Patricia Kingori |
| Nationality: | British, Kenyan, Kittitian |
Vanessa Kingori is a multi-award-winning businesswoman with over 20 years of experience in the media and creative industries. She now serves as Google's Managing Director of Technology, Media, and Telecoms, bringing a fresh perspective to the company's business and cultural shifts for the AI era.
Vanessa has a track record of "firsts" throughout her career. In 2017, she made history as British Vogues first female Publishing Director in over 100 years and Condé Nast Britain's first Black Publisher. She also held significant roles at GQ and British Vogue, driving revenue growth, purpose, and business strategy. Her appointment at Google makes her the most senior Black leader in Google's European business org.
Vanessa is a prolific public speaker, sharing her insights on purpose in business, revenue diversification, change management, and career pivots at events such as the World Economic Forum in Davos, Cannes Lion and for FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 companies.
She is recognized for her accomplishments, receiving an OBE and an MBE for her services to British Media, as well as being named Powerlist's most influential Black executive in 2023 amongst many other accolades.
Vanessa has served on various boards as a Non-Executive Director/Trustee, including the University of the Arts and the Royal Opera House and Ballet.
Kingori was born in Kenya, initially educated on the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts, before moving permanently to London to complete her education. She went to Royal Holloway College of the University of London.[1] She worked on the London Evening Standard and then at Esquire before her tenure at Condé Nast.[2]
In March 2015, she was appointed publisher of British GQ across all platforms.[3] 2016 marked her first year as publisher and GQs most successful year of the last decade.[4] GQ won several digital commercial awards in her tenure. In September 2017, she was appointed publishing director of all British Vogue platforms[5] - the first female publishing director in its over 100-year history. She is the first person of colour in the role and Condé Nast UK's youngest serving Publishing Director. Kingori began her role as Publishing Director of British Vogue in January 2018. In September 2021, Kingori was promoted to chief business officer[6] across the entire British company, covering all Conde Nast Britain brands – Vogue, GQ, GQ Style, Wired, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Tatler, Johansen's, Conde Nast Traveler, House & Garden and The World of Interiors. This is in addition to continuing her existing responsibilities directly leading British Vogue. She was also appointed as Vogue European Business
Kingori is a visiting fellow at the University of the Arts London (UAL),[7] sits on several boards and is a regular public speaker.
She has sat on the judging panel of the Black British Business Awards since 2015.[8] and has been regularly listed as one of the UK's 100 most influential Black Britons by the Powerlist, with her most recent appearance in the 2021 edition.[9] [10]
In January 2017, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan appointed her to his Brexit Advisory Panel, which gives advice following the vote to leave the European Union.[11]
In her work as youth advocate, Kingori sits on UAL's board of directors as a governor and trustee and enjoys a long-standing role as visiting fellow at the University of the Arts London, where she supports and mentors students across the institution's six colleges, which include Central Saint Martins and London College of Fashion. This is in addition to her key responsibilities giving governance regarding the organisations key business decisions. Kingori was awarded a UAL Honorary Doctorate in 2018[12] and an Honorary Fellowship from Royal Holloway in 2021.[13]
Kingori's work as diversity proponent includes the judging panel of the Black British Business Awards, the Veuve Clicquot Business Women of The Year Award,[14] The Mayor of London's TFL's diversity in advertising competition.[15] Kingori is a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Race Equality Taskforce.[16] In support of women entrepreneurs, she is also part of a microfund Peanut StartHer, which is focused on helping pre-seed entrepreneurs in tech and business, with a particular focus on giving purpose-driven startups, founded by women, their first boost.[17]
In October 2020, during the UK's Black History Month, Kingori organised and lead the #ShareTheMic UK campaign to highlight the accomplishments and contribution of high-achieving Black women, using the allyship of successful White women.[18] The project was backed by Instagram and participants included Priya Ahluwalia, Bernardine Evaristo, Bianca Saunders, June Sarpong, Emma Dabiri, Kourtney Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham, Sheryl Sandberg, Christiane Amanpour and Brooke Shields, with a combined audience of 175 million.The campaign helped to launch several exciting new collaborations, inspiring conversations, books, podcasts and new friendships between unlikely pairings. Kingori said she had never witnessed more meaningful, honest discussions about racial disparity as she has amid the challenges and tragedies of 2020.[18]
Kingori was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2016 Birthday Honours[19] and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to the media industry.
Kingori was awarded the "Media Mogul of the Year" award at the 2017 Black Magic Awards.[20]
In May 2018, Kingori was listed as second on the Financial Times "EMpower 100 Ethnic Minority Leaders" list[21] and she was awarded a Best of Africa Special Award.[22]
In July 2018, Kingori was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from University of the Arts London[23] and she was placed onto The Female FTSE Board Report 2018 "100 Women to Watch" list by Cranfield University.[24]
From 2013 to 2021, Kingori has been regularly listed as one of the UK's 100 most influential Black Britons" by the Powerlist.
In 2020, Kingori topped Campaign's 2020 Trailblazers list alongside British Vogue's Editor-in-chief Edward Enninful.[25]