Outvertising, UK advertising’s LGBTQ+ advocacy group, has announced the appointment of Lord Black of Brentwood (Guy Black) as its Council Chairman.

Brentwood, who was the first out gay Conservative peer to sit in the House of Lords, has campaigned on a range of LGBTQ+ issues including equal marriage, gay conversion therapy and criminalisation of homosexuality in the Commonwealth. He is Deputy Chairman of the Telegraph Group.

The Outvertising Council, which provides governance and strategic guidance to the voluntary organisation, has also announced its full Council membership of LGBTQ+ leaders and allies from across the industry.

The Council will include Jane Luca, Director of Public Affairs at ITV; Diana Tickell, CEO of NABS; Pedro Pina, VP and Head of YouTube, Europe Middle East and Africa; Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, “Lady Phyll”, Executive Director of the Kaleidoscope Trust and Co-Founder of UK Black Pride; Adah Parris, Chair, Mental Health First Aid England; Bobbi Pickard, CEO of Trans in the City; Sarah Garrett MBE, CEO of SPM Group; and Leng Montgomery, Consultant.                                                   

Commenting on his appointment Lord Black said “Outvertising’s aim is to ensure that UK advertising is completely LGBTQ+ inclusive. I see positive signs in our advertising output and in our workplaces, but there is still much work to be done. I look forward to working with the team and with the Council on the challenges ahead.”