Carolyn McCall DBE

Dame Carolyn is CEO of ITV plc, which has undergone a significant transformation over the last seven years to ensure the company thrives and succeeds in a ferociously competitive digital media world. Under Carolyn’s leadership, ITV has successfully transitioned from a linear organisation to a strong linear and digital media, entertainment and global production business.

ITV has focused on the changing needs of viewers and creating relevant content, with market leading programmes across multiple genres including entertainment, drama, reality and live sport both reflecting and shaping culture in the UK and becoming a global producer. It has won numerous awards for series as diverse as the seminal drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office to international reality standout Love Island, with ITV1 winning Channel of the Year in 2024 at both the Broadcast Awards and Edinburgh TV Festival and ITV Studios named Production Group of the Year in 2025 at Edinburgh.

In the Media and Entertainment division ITVX, the company’s streaming service, launched in 2023 and is now the UK’s fastest growing streaming platform since its launch. Also under her leadership, Planet V launched in 2018 and has become the UK’s second biggest video ad platform (after Google). This has enabled ITV to be the market leader in UK advertiser funded streaming.

ITV Studios has grown by a third since 2018 and is now a business generating over £2bn a year in revenue. As a result of this transformation almost two thirds of ITV’s revenue now comes from digital and studios.

Between 2010 and 2017, Carolyn was CEO of easyJet, leading a turnaround that resulted in a customer-focused airline that made it easy and affordable for passengers. The share price quadrupled during her tenure. From 2006 to 2010, Carolyn was CEO of the Guardian Media Group, leading six Divisions and created the investment trust that helped to secure the Guardian's financial and editorial independence. From 2002, she was CEO of Guardian Newspapers Ltd.

Carolyn joined the Board of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation in 2024 and sits on the Finance and Commercial Committee. She also currently serves as a Non-Executive Director (NED) on the Board of Bridgepoint plc, and is the newly appointed President of The Marketing Society. She has previously served as a NED of Burberry, Tesco, Lloyds bank and New Look Group plc. She served as a Trustee of the Royal Academy for 8 years, and Chaired their Corporate Advisory Board during this time.

In 2016, Carolyn was awarded a Damehood for services to the aviation industry and received an OBE in 2008 for services to women in business. She has received the Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year (2008); and awards for business leadership from the Evening Standard, City AM and Management Today.