Ogilvy UK Appoints Matt Foster as Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion

Ogilvy UK announced today that they are appointing Matt Foster as director of diversity equity and inclusion. An industry specialist, Matt brings an award-winning approach with deep expertise in all aspects of DEI. Matt will work closely with the global and EMEA DEI leads, across all five areas of the business – including Advertising, Consulting, Experience, Health and PR, and will report into Elaine Grell, chief people officer for Ogilvy EMEA.

Matt Foster has experience from both network and creative agencies – most recently at the WPP agency BCW, where he was head of inclusion for the UK. With 18 years front line client service experience, alongside this he has also established diversity councils, launched LGBTQ+ employee networks, as well as formulated and delivered UK and global network inclusion strategies. As a British Diversity Award-winning founding member of WPP Unite, Matt is a recognised key driver of change across the industry. He is a frequent panellist and public speaker, is fluent in both Spanish and Tagalog and brings a highly attuned culturally adaptive skillset and multicultural background.

Matt will lead Ogilvy UK’s DEI strategy and activation to grow and develop initiatives and programmes throughout the agency, the community networks and creative work, to drive positive change towards Ogilvy’s DEI goals. He will work alongside Ogilvy’s DEI leads to continue the growth and momentum that has been achieved in the UK over the last eighteen months since Fiona Gordon took over as CEO.

“I am hugely excited to be joining an organisation that continues to be at the top of its game creatively. I find Ogilvy UK’s ambition to truly integrate diversity, equity and inclusion into the fabric of its business inspiring. Whether it’s how colleagues treat each other, how the agency shows up for clients or the impact that its work has on the world around us, there’s no more exciting a place to effect meaningful change than at Ogilvy, nor a more compelling and relevant time than now.” Matt Foster

“In the last twelve months Ogilvy UK’s leadership team is now 66% female, we were the first agency to be a ‘Menopause Friendly Employer’, we launched an agency-wide coaching scheme, and we stopped working with Influencers who edit their bodies for ads. It’s been a pivotal year for leading inclusively at Ogilvy UK, and we are thrilled to have Matt on board.” Elaine Grell, CPO, Ogilvy EMEA