Dame Priscilla Deborah Snowball, DBE, generally known as Cilla Snowball (born October 1958), is Group Chairman and Group Chief Executive of AMV BBDO, an advertising and communications group in the UK. She has worked for Abbott Mead Vickers for 20 years; in senior management positions since 2005, rising to agency head and now country head.

Career

After graduating from the

Birmingham University The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a Public university, public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingha ...

in 1981 (BA, French), she moved straight into the world of advertising where she joined Allen Brady Marsh. In 1983, she moved to

Ogilvy and Mather Ogilvy is a New York City-based British advertising, marketing, and public relations agency. It was founded in 1850 by Edmund Mather as a London-based agency. In 1964, the firm became known as Ogilvy & Mather after merging with a New York City ag ...

before leaving for Abbott Mead Vickers nine years later. There she moved up in the company, taking first the post of

Chief Executive A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especial ...

, then Chairman in 2004 and Group CEO and Chairman in 2006. On the board of BBDO Worldwide, Comic Relief and Birmingham University, she was appointed a CBE for services to advertising in 2009. She is Chairman of the Advertising Association.

Other activities

Corporate boards

Derwent London Derwent London is a British-based property investment and development business. It is headquartered in London and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. History The business was originally established as the operator of the Derwent Valley Ligh ...

, Non-Executive Member of the Board of Directors (since 2015) *

RAC Limited RAC Limited (The RAC) is a British automotive services company headquartered in Walsall, West Midlands. Its principal services are roadside assistance and general insurance, and its subsidiaries include RAC Motoring Services Ltd, RAC Financial ...

, Non-Executive Member of the Board of Directors (since 2014)

Non-profit organisations

* Genome Research Limited (GRL), Member of the Board of Directors (since 2019) *

Wellcome Trust The Wellcome Trust is a charitable foundation focused on health research based in London, in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1936 with legacies from the pharmaceutical magnate Henry Wellcome (founder of one of the predecessors of Glax ...

, Member of the Board of Governors (since 2019) * Women's Business Council, Chair (since 2016)

Recognition

In February 2013 Snowball was listed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom by

Woman's Hour ''Woman's Hour'' is a radio magazine programme broadcast in the United Kingdom on the BBC Light Programme, BBC Radio 2, and later BBC Radio 4. It has been on the air since 1946. History Created by Norman Collins and originally presented by ...

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of Talk radio, spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history fro ...

. She was appointed

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(DBE) in the

2017 Birthday Honours The 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as p ...

for services to advertising, diversity, and equality.

References

External links

Financial Times - The Inventory: Cilla SnowballManagement Today - Friends in High PlacesPhoto of BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Power List
1958 births Living people British advertising executives Alumni of the University of Birmingham Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire Place of birth missing (living people) Date of birth missing (living people) {{UK-business-bio-1950s-stub