Vanessa Kingori

Managing Director of Technology Media Telecoms for Google, First Female Publishing Director of British Vogue, First Black Publisher for more than 100 years at Condé Nast Britain & Named Business Person of the Year from The London Chamber of Commerce Black Excellence Awards

Vanessa Kingori’s Biography:

Vanessa Kingori OBE is one of the most influential leaders in the global media and creative industries, recognised for breaking barriers across publishing, fashion and technology. As the first female Publishing Director of British Vogue and the first Black Publisher in more than 100 years at Condé Nast Britain, Vanessa has built a reputation as a transformative business leader and keynote speaker. Now serving as Managing Director of Technology Media Telecoms for Google, she speaks to FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 organisations on change management, revenue diversification, leadership and career reinvention. With more than 20 years of experience, Vanessa is widely respected for combining commercial insight with cultural influence.

Beginning her career as an advertising intern at the Evening Standard, Vanessa quickly progressed through the ranks to become Acting Group Head of ES Magazine. She later joined Hearst UK as Fashion Manager of Esquire Magazine before being headhunted by Condé Nast in 2009. There, she became Publisher of GQ Style UK and Associate Publisher of Fashion for British GQ before rising to senior leadership positions including Chief Business Officer of Condé Nast Britain and Publishing Director of British Vogue. Alongside her corporate career, Vanessa has advised the Mayor of London on Brexit and supported numerous cultural and educational institutions through non-executive roles.

Vanessa’s achievements have earned widespread recognition. She was appointed MBE in 2016 and later OBE in 2023 for services to the media industry. She was named the Powerlist’s Most Influential Black British Executive and consistently featured in the top 10 of the 100 Most Influential Black Britons. Vanessa has also received Business Person of the Year from The London Chamber of Commerce Black Excellence Awards and honorary academic distinctions from the University of Portsmouth and Royal Holloway University.

Beyond corporate leadership, Vanessa is a passionate advocate for diversity, representation and purposeful business. She serves as a Patron of the British Fashion Council and sits on the Board of Trustees for the Royal Opera House. Having spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos and Cannes Lions, Vanessa brings global insight into leadership, innovation and the future of business. As the most senior Black leader in Google’s European business organisation, she continues to inspire audiences with her expertise on navigating change, driving commercial growth and building inclusive leadership cultures.

Why Hire Vanessa Kingori?

Vanessa Kingori OBE is hired as a speaker for her rare combination of boardroom leadership, cultural influence and transformational business expertise. Having led some of the world’s most recognisable media brands before moving into senior leadership at Google, Vanessa delivers powerful insights on change management, business diversification and leadership in evolving industries. Her experience speaking at major global events, including the World Economic Forum and Cannes Lions, allows her to connect with audiences across sectors. Vanessa’s talks are insightful, commercially focused and deeply inspiring for organisations navigating innovation and change.

Vanessa Kingori’s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define Vanessa Kingori’s remarkable career:

• 2024 – Became Managing Director of Technology Media Telecoms for Google, leading strategic relationships across major industries.
• 2023 – Appointed OBE for services to the media industry and leadership.
• 2023 – Named Business Person of the Year at The London Chamber of Commerce Black Excellence Awards.
• 2023 – Recognised as the Powerlist’s Most Influential Black British Executive.
• 2023 – Ranked in the top 10 of the Powerlist’s 100 Most Influential Black Britons.
• 2022 – Joined the Board of Trustees for the Royal Opera House as a Non-Executive Trustee.
• 2019 – Became Publishing Director of the British Vogue Portfolio at Condé Nast.
• 2018 – Appointed Patron of the British Fashion Council and named on the Financial Times EMpower 100 Ethnic Minority Leaders list.
• 2017 – Served as an Expert Advisor on Brexit to the Mayor of London.
• 2016 – Awarded an MBE in recognition of her contribution to the media and creative industries.