In June 2020, Sky announced a series of commitments to support anti-racism and improve diversity and inclusion across the company. 

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Sky: Seven leaders in diversity and inclusion have been appointed to the council

This included a committment to invest £10 million per year across its markets for each of the next three years to improve representation and progression of minority groups and 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 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. According to Sky, their unique perspectives will add value to the way the company 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

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, Peart will be responsible for developing and delivering Sky’s Group Talent strategy and working with the group executive to drive Sky’s ambition to become a more diverse and inclusive organisation.

Klein 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.”