Vanessa Kingori
Vanessa Kingori MBE | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British/Kenyan/Kittitian |
| Education | Royal Holloway, University of London |
| Employer | Condé Nast |
| Known for | Publishing Director of British Vogue (Jan 2018 - Present) Publisher of British GQ (Mar 2015 - Dec 2017) |
Vanessa Kingori MBE is the current Publishing Director of British Vogue[1]. Prior to that, Kingori was the Publisher of British GQ across all platforms. Kingori has worked for media publishing house, Condé Nast UK for nine years.
Life
Kingori was born in Kenya, initially educated on the Caribbean island of St. Christopher and Nevis (St. Kitts) before moving permanently to London to complete her education. Kingori went to the Royal Holloway College of the University of London. She worked on the London Evening Standard and then at Esquire magazine[2].
In September 2017, she was appointed Publishing Director of all British Vogue platforms[3]. This makes Kingori the first female publisher of the company's flagship brand in its over 100-year history. Kingori 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 March 2015, she was appointed Publisher of British GQ across all platforms[4]. Again, marking several firsts for the company.
At GQ, Kingori gave particular focus to building the brand’s digital fortunes whilst simultaneously growing and maintaining the print elements of the GQ portfolio.
2016 marked her first full year as Publisher and GQ’s most successful year of revenue generation of the last decade[5]. After significant changes in management, restructuring the largely print heritage team, digital revenue performance peaked, up 115% year on year. GQ won several digital commercial awards in her tenure.
Social Influence
Kingori has a keen interest in youth development and in her role as Visiting Fellow at the University of the Arts London.
She has sat on the judging panel of the Black British Business Awards since 2015.
Kingori has been listed as one of the UK’s 20 Most Influential Black Britons by the Powerlist magazine every year since 2013.
In July 2018, Kingori was placed onto The Female FTSE Board Report 2018 100 Women to Watch list by Cranfield University.
Awards
Kingori was awarded an MBE on the Queen's 90th Birthday Honors Lists, 2016.
In the same year, she was awarded 2016's 'Leader in Luxury' at the Walpole British Luxury awards.
In May 2018, Kingori was listed as second on the Financial Times Empower 100 Ethic Minority Leaders list.
In July 2018, Kingori was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from University of the Arts London.
References
Standard.co.uk - Vanessa Kingori on the new era of Vogue
Vogue.co.uk - Career Girl: British Vogue Publisher, Vanessa Kingori
Ft.com - Financial Times EMpower 100 Ethic Minority Leaders List
- ^ https://www.standard.co.uk/fashion/vanessa-kingori-vogue-edward-enninful-a3827146.html, Evening Standard, May 2018; Accessed 7 August 2018.
- ^ https://thisisafrica.me/no-glass-ceiling-kenyan-born-vanessa-kingori-youngest-first-female-publisher-british-gq/ thisisafrica.me, July 2017; Accessed 7 August 2018.
- ^ https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/vanessa-kingori-confirmed-as-new-british-vogue-publisher vogue.co.uk, Sept 2017; Accessed 7th August 2018.
- ^ https://wwd.com/business-news/media/vanessa-kingori-named-publisher-of-british-gq-10097500/ wwd.com, Mar 2015; Accessed 7th August 2018.
- ^ https://www.theindustry.fashion/interview-conde-nasts-vanessa-kingori-newly-appointed-publisher-vogue/ theindustry.fashion Sep 2017; Accessed 7th August 2018.