Getty Images announces Dawn Airey to the Board of Directors as upcoming CEO

– USA, NY – Getty Images, the world’s leading visual media company, has today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Dawn Airey to the role of Chief Executive Officer, with effect from October 12, 2015. Co-founder and CEO, Jonathan Klein is stepping up to the role of Chairman, as announced on the company’s 20th anniversary in March of this year.

Airey was previously Senior Vice President of Yahoo!’s EMEA businesses, where she led the company’s operations in the region. Prior to that she held senior leadership positions at several major UK media companies, including Chairman and CEO of Channel 5, Managing Director of Global Content at ITV and Managing Director of Channels and Services at BSkyB. Airey is currently part of a UK Government-selected panel charged with reviewing the BBC’s charter renewal.

Commenting on the appointment, Getty Images Co-founder and CEO Jonathan Klein said: “After 20 years at the helm, I am delighted Dawn is joining the team to drive Getty Images in its next phase of growth, innovation and industry leadership. Our new CEO is an experienced leader with a strong track record of programming and monetizing content. Dawn’s deep understanding of the consumer market and the intersection of technology and content means she is well situated to run Getty Images as it explores new opportunities within the consumer space and beyond. We could not be more excited about the future.”

Under Airey’s leadership, Getty Images looks to accelerate its progress in both its traditional businesses as well as new growth areas. Speaking on her new role, Dawn Airey said: “I have long admired Getty Images and relish the opportunity to lead this iconic global business as it continues to break new ground and propel the industry that this company has pioneered for 20 years.”

“Engaging audiences through the power of visual storytelling is what I am passionate about, and, at its core, that is what Getty Images is all about: inspiring and enabling the world to tell its stories through the exceptional content the team captures each and every day. There is immense potential when it comes to marrying content with new monetization opportunities, and I cannot wait to get started. It’s a pleasure to join such a talented team and to work with Jonathan as we drive the business forward.”

During its first 20 years, Getty Images led the industry into the digital age and has been responsible for every major innovation in the visual content business. From moving the industry online to driving the growth of royalty-free photography; from disrupting the industry with the introduction of crowd-sourcing through iStock by Getty Images to establishing market leadership in news, sport and entertainment content, Getty Images has always been at the forefront. In March 2014, Getty Images revolutionized the industry with the launch of its embed tool, enabling free, legal sharing of over 60 million images, for non-commercial purposes. Today, its embed offering has crossed 3 billion impressions. Airey will focus on building on this rich innovative history as well as new growth areas.

Co-founder and Chairman Mark Getty, who assumes the role of Deputy Chairman, said: “The board and I are pleased to have someone of Dawn Airey’s abilities assume leadership at Getty Images. Dawn’s considerable experience in the media and consumer space, coupled with her strong understanding of programming content, means she is very well-placed to drive Getty Images forward. I am also pleased that Jonathan will be Chairman and Getty Images will continue to benefit from his knowledge and passion which he has used to such great effect during his leadership of our business through 20 remarkable years of innovation, disruption and growth.”

Airey is relocating from London to New York with her partner and two children.

About Dawn Airey

Dawn Airey is the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of Getty Images, the world’s leading visual communications company.

As Chief Executive Officer, Airey will be responsible for running Getty Images’ global operations; working alongside Getty Images Co-Founder and Chairman, Jonathan Klein, as well as its Board of Directors, to drive the company in its next phase of growth, innovation and industry leadership.

A veteran of the media industry, Airey has worked in television for 30 years, holding senior positions with the majority of the United Kingdom’s commercial broadcasters. Prior to joining Getty Images, Airey was Senior Vice President of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Operation of Yahoo! Inc. During her two-year tenure at Yahoo!, Airey led the company’s operations in the region.

Prior to joining Yahoo!, Airey held leadership positions at many major UK media companies, including President of a unit of RTL Group, Channel 5’s parent company, and Chairwoman and Chief Executive of Channel 5, where she oversaw all operations. She also worked as Managing Director of Global Content at ITV where she oversaw its UK and international production and content businesses. Prior to that, Airey served as Managing Director, Channels and Services, at BSkyB, the UK’s largest pay-TV broadcaster.

Airey was awarded a fellowship by the Royal Television Society (RTS) in 1998. She is a Vice President of the RTS, the Senior Non-Executive Director of Thomas Cook PLC and Chair of The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain. She is currently a representative of a UK Government-selected advisory group of experts to support the BBC Charter Review.

Airey was born in Preston, Lancashire in the United Kingdom, and studied at the University of Cambridge. Currently residing in London, Airey is relocating to New York in October 2015 with her partner and two children to take up her role with Getty Images.

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Talent4Boards Team

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