Vanessa Kingori MBE, British Vogue
Vanessa Kingori MBE
Publishing Director
British Vogue

Vanessa Kingori MBE has worked for media publishing house, Conde Nast UK for a decade.

In September 2017, she was appointed Publishing Director of all British Vogue platforms. This makes Vanessa the first female publisher of the company's flagship brand in its over 100-year history. Vanessa is the first person of colour in the role and Conde Nast UK's youngest serving Publisher.

Vanessa began her role as Publishing Director of British Vogue in January 2018. In her first year as Vogue’s Publishing Director, Vanessa helped lead the team to its most successful digital revenue in the website’s 30-year history, nearly doubling revenue year-on-year, simultaneously maintaining British Vogue’s large print revenue, as well as leading the team to an increase of 750% in profits year-on-year for British Vogue events.

Vanessa’s role at Vogue has involved a significant shift in the brand’s purpose and working practices with an emphasis on diversity of perspective, social responsibility and female empowerment.

Prior to British Vogue, Vanessa was Publisher of British GQ across all platforms. Again, marking several firsts for the company.

Following this appointment in 2015, Vanessa gave particular focus to building GQ’s digital fortunes whilst simultaneously growing and maintaining the print elements of the GQ Portfolio. A method she has since used in her role at British Vogue.

2016 marked her first full year as Publisher and GQ’s most successful year of revenue generation of the last decade. After significant changes in management, restructuring her largely print heritage team, digital revenue performance peaked, up 115% year-on-year. GQ won several digital commercial awards externally and internally including the Conde Nast International award for the best digital native advertising performance across all CN global brands whilst maintaining print revenues.

Vanessa has a keen interest in youth development and in her longstanding role as Visiting Fellow at the University of the Arts London, Vanessa supports students through panel discussions, project evaluations and mentoring. She has sat on the judging panel of the Black British Business Awards since 2015 with a personal emphasis on rising stars and businesses focused on the arts and media.

Vanessa's extensive networks saw her listed as one of the UK's 20 Most Influential Black Britons under 40 in 2013 by the Powerlist magazine. This was elevated to the overall Most Influential Black Briton’s list on each of the 2016 - 2019 lists.

Vanessa was awarded an MBE on the Queen's 90th Birthday Honours Lists 2016, making her the first Conde Nast UK Publisher to have received a Royal Honour. In the same year she was awarded 2016's 'Leader in Luxury' at the Walpole British Luxury awards.

In May 2018, the Financial Times listed Vanessa in the 100 ethic minority business leaders making British workplaces more diverse on their 'EMpower 100 Ethic Minority Leaders' list. Vanessa was listed as 2nd in the list of 100.

In July 2018, Vanessa was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from UAL for her services to the media and fashion industries. In the same year, Vanessa was placed onto The Female FTSE Board Report 2018 - 100 Women to Watch list.