Carolyn McCall joined ITV in January 2018 and launched a review of the company’s strategy in light of the rapidly changing media landscape.
Carolyn outlined a new vision - ‘More than TV’ - designed to build upon ITV’s unique and winning combination of creativity and commercial strength, transforming digitally to take advantage of evolving viewing and advertising opportunities, and to create a stronger, more diversified and structurally sound business.
Prior to joining ITV, Carolyn was CEO of leading European short haul airline easyJet for nearly 8 years where she turned around the company, by focusing on customers and people. This changed the public’s expectations for value and service and resulted in a quadrupling of the share price. She also launched the Amy Johnson initiative targeting female entry pilots.
Before easyjet, Carolyn held a number of commercial and management roles at Guardian News and Media, including MD Commercial where she launched the Guardian website and CEO of Guardian News and Media (GNM) before being appointed Guardian Media Group CEO in 2006, where in addition to GNM, she was responsible for the Radio and Regional Media Divisions and chaired the Autotrader Board overseeing with Apax their digital transition and acquiring EMAP's Business to Business Division.
Carolyn has won numerous awards in her career, including an OBE for services to women in business and the Veuve Cliquot Business Woman of the Year award (2008). In 2016, she was decorated with France's highest award, the Légion d'honneur in recognition of her contribution to the economies of France and the UK and for her support of women, particularly female pilots. In the New Year’s Honours List, 2016 Carolyn was awarded a Damehood for services to the aviation industry. She has been named the most admired leader by Management Today three times, the only person to have won the award for two separate companies.
