London, 8 May 2019: BIMA, the UK’s digital trade body has announced the 2019 inductees into the BIMA Hall of Fame, celebrating the people who’ve shaped and built the digital industry.
Dame Carolyn McCall DBE and Sherry Coutu CBE will be honoured for their contributions to the UK digital industry tonight at a ceremony in London tonight, which will also recognise this year’s BIMA 100; the influencers and game-changers driving the industry forward around the country.
BIMA Hall of Fame inductees are nominated the executive council and previous inductees and chosen by the BIMA executive committee, led by Co-Presidents Natalie Gross and Tarik Nseir. Previous inductees include; Jamal Edwards MBE, Dame Stephanie Shirley, Alan Rusbridger, Dr Sue Black OBE, and Stephen Fry.
Justin Cooke, BIMA Hall of Fame member, says, “Sherry’s prolific CV speaks for itself; she has made an indelible impact on almost every aspect of Britain’s digital and technology eco-system over the last 25 years. But perhaps more importantly, she has had the vision to identify the unmet needs of and to drive growth in what is now the UK’s fastest growing industry, but what was back then a young industry full of unknowns, risk, and also great potential. We are both excited and delighted to induct Sherry into the BIMA Hall of Fame.
Tarik Nseir, BIMA Co-President, says of Dame Carolyn McCall DBE: “From overseeing the launch of The Guardian’s first digital edition, to leading Easyjet’s digital transformation, to building a sustainable digital future for the UK’s broadcasters, Carolyn McCall has been a digital champion her whole career. Above all, as one of only 7 female CEOs in the FTSE 100, Carolyn has championed the progress of women in business throughout her career. At a time when we as an industry are acknowledging the work that still needs to be done in diversity and inclusivity, she continues to be a leader for our times.”
Dame Carolyn McCall, DBE says, “Digital permeates every area of business and is extremely important to any company’s strategy. I’m honoured to be recognised by BIMA and inducted into their Hall of Fame, particularly at a time when ITV is focusing on digitally transforming all aspects of its business.“
Accepting the award Sherry Coutu, CBE comments: “It is a tremendous honour to be recognised in this way by BIMA. I am privileged to have worked with so many to help bring about change. Technology has given us a great gift – the opportunity to makes lives better – at scale! No other sector can bring about a better society with better prospects for all.”
About this year’s inductees:
Sherry Coutu CBE serves on the boards of companies, charities, and universities. She chairs Founders4Schools, Workfinder, The Scaleup Institute, and Raspberry Pi Trading Ltd and serves as a non-executive board member of Pearson plc, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, and the London Stock Exchange plc.
Sherry is a serial entrepreneur who has invested in more than 60 companies as an angel (including Linkedin, Zoopla, Lovefilm (Amazon), New Energy Finance (Bloomberg) and 5 venture capital firms. Philanthropically, she supports the Prince’s Trust, the Crick Institute and Founders4Schools.
Sherry was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for Services to Entrepreneurship in the New Year’s Honours List 2013 and has been awarded Honorary Phd’s from The University of Bristol, Manchester University and the Open University for her work in Education and Economy.
Dame Carolyn McCall DBE became ITV’s first female Chief Executive in January 2018, where she outlined a new vision – ‘More than TV’ – designed to build upon ITV’s unique and winning combination of creativity and commercial strength.
Prior to joining ITV, Carolyn was CEO of leading European short haul airline easyJet for nearly 8 years where she transformed the airline’s financial performance, changed the public’s expectations for value and service and lead an initiative to train more female pilots. Carolyn has also held various commercial and management roles at Guardian Media Group, becoming Group CEO in 2006.
In 2008, Carolyn was awarded an OBE for services to women in business. 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 of 2016 Carolyn was awarded a Damehood for services to the aviation industry.
To find out more about the BIMA Hall of Fame, visit bima.co.uk/100HOF