The Valuable 500 has announced the appointment of Katy Talikowska as its new CEO. With an impressive track record leading on inclusion in the advertising industry, Katy is set to strengthen and amplify the global movement for disability inclusion. Katy succeeds Joanne Pritchard, former CEO of the Valuable 500, to lead the organisation into an ambitious strategic phase until the end of 2025.
Caroline Casey, founder of the Valuable 500, will continue to play a vital role for the organisation as Director, providing ongoing insights, guidance, and expertise. Katy will report to Paul Polman and Jeff Dodds jointly as Chairs of the Company and Advisory board. Reporting to Katy, Gitika Kalra will join the executive team as Director of Operations and Delivery, after successfully implementing complex transformation programmes within the UK and Asia markets.
New CEO Katy Talikowska began her journey with the Valuable 500 in 2019 when she partnered with Caroline Casey to launch the initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Her instrumental role in the programme’s initiation showcased her commitment to disability inclusion on the global stage. As CEO, Katy will lead the Valuable 500’s mission to ensure that disability inclusion becomes a strategic priority for companies worldwide.
Katy will lead the charge towards the Valuable 500 Accountability Summit in Tokyo 2025, where the 500 companies of the organisation will be invited to report on their progress against three ‘Synchronised Collective Actions’: Leadership, Reporting and Representation.
Before her appointment, Katy excelled in various leadership roles during her impressive twelve-year journey at AMV BBDO, a leading advertising agency. Katy played a key role in the ground-breaking 2016 Maltesers Disability campaign, which garnered prestigious awards and became Maltesers’ most successful campaign in 18 years. She serves as a Leadership Mentor for Disability Rights UK and has been acknowledged as a Marketing Trailblazer of 2019. She has extensive global business expertise, having worked for 7 years in New Zealand and Australia.
Katy and Gitika bring their leadership, creativity, and a deep-rooted commitment to the disability agenda. Their appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the Valuable 500 as it continues to drive disability inclusion globally.
Katy Talikowska, CEO of the Valuable 500 commented:
“As the new CEO of the Valuable 500, I am excited to lead the change, drive our mission of the 3 Synchronised Collective Actions, and help end disability exclusion.
It is crucial that businesses recognise disability inclusion not only as a moral imperative but as a strategic priority. Considering today’s competitive market, inclusion is a critical commercial advantage. It is not only about embracing diversity for diversity’s sake but about the value of recognising people with disabilities as consumers and, especially within the workplace, as employees. I am committed to driving tangible change towards a business world that recognises disability in its entirety.”
Caroline Casey, Founder of the Valuable 500, commented: “Katy’s dedication to disability inclusion is undeniable. She has shown commitment to the Valuable 500 since its inception, and I am confident that under her guidance, the organisation will continue to make significant progress in accelerating disability inclusion through business. Phase 1, we achieved 500 CEO-backed board-level commitments as we broke the global CEO silence on disability in business and we positioned disability on the global BUSINESS leadership agenda. I look forward to working closely with Katy and truly believe in her leadership for the Valuable 500 and its next growth phase.”
