Nicola Sharon Mendelsohn, Baroness Mendelsohn, CBE (néeClyne; born 29 August 1971), is a British advertising executive.[1] Active in the advertising industry since 1992, Mendelsohn serves as the head of global advertising relationships for
Facebook, and also sits on the board of
Diageo. The Daily Telegraph has called her "the most powerful woman in the British tech industry".[2]
From 1989 to 1992, she attended the
University of Leeds, graduating with a bachelor's degree in English and Theatre Studies, and was active in Jewish causes.[6][7][8]
Career
Mendelsohn originally planned to attend drama school and become an actress, but on a friend's recommendation decided to explore advertising instead.[9] After working at
Bartle Bogle Hegarty, she became Deputy Chairman of
Grey London in April 2004.[6] In April 2008 she became partner and executive chairman at
Karmarama, a London advertising agency.[6][8]
In 2013 she was hired as
Facebook's advertising Vice President for EMEA, ending the company's half-year search to replace outgoing VP
Joanna Shields.[7][10][4][11]
In September 2014 she became a non-executive director of
Diageo.[4][14] Previously, she was a board director for Bartle Bogle Hegarty and the Fragrance Foundation, chairman of the corporate board of Women's Aid, trustee of The White Ribbon Alliance, and president of the Women's Advertising Club of London.[6][13][14]
Also in 2015, Computer Weekly ranked Mendelsohn number 34 on its "50 Most Influential Women in UK IT 2015",[16] she was named one of the Most Inspiring Women in European Tech by the Inspiring Fifty organisation,[17] and
Debrett's included her on their "People of Influence" in the Debrett's 500 2015 list.[4]
In 2014 she was included on GQ's list of the 100 Most Connected Women in Britain,[18] and ranked number 85 on The Jewish Chronicle's Power 100 list.[19]
In 2013, she ranked number 69 on The Guardian's "MediaGuardian 100 2013".[20] In 2011 she was named one of Advertising Age's "Women to Watch".[13] In 2005 Management Today included her on its list of the top 35 women under 35 in the business world.[21]
In 2019, Mendelsohn was 34th in Computer Weekly's 50 "Most Influential Women in UK Tech" shortlist.[23]
Philanthropy
On
World Cancer Day (4 February 2018)[24] she made public that she had been diagnosed with
follicular lymphoma, an incurable cancer of the blood.[25] Mendelsohn said that she made the announcement to raise awareness about the cancer, describing it as not rare but little-known.[26]
Nicola launched The Follicular Lymphoma Foundation in 2019 – a charity dedicated to funding research into the disease and supporting patients. The organization is dedicated to helping those with the condition “live well”. It will also aim to raise $20m (£15.5m) in its first three years and is hoping to find a cure to the disease within the next decade. [27]