Larissa Joy OBE
Biography
Larissa Joy OBE was appointed as a non-executive director of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in July 2023.
Larissa is a non-executive director of search firm Saxton Bampfylde; Chairman of the trust board of international architecture practice Hawkins\Brown; a non-executive director of the Law Society of England and Wales and Independent Chair of law firm Charles Russell Speechlys’ ESG Steerco, following 7 years as non-executive director and Chair of RemCo for the firm. In her pro bono portfolio, she is Chair of Social Business Trust (a consortium of Clifford Chance, Permira, Bain, EY, FT Group, Schroders and others supporting a portfolio of civil society organisations to grow their impact); and co-founder and co-chair of Thrive at Five. She was Chair of the Foundling Museum 2015 to 2024.
Her previous executive roles include Vice Chairman of WPP’s Ogilvy Group UK; European COO of Weber Shandwick; Partner of emerging markets private equity firm Actis LLP; non-executive director of London & Quadrant (L&Q); non-executive director of Helpforce; and Chair of Sir Quentin Blake’s House of Illustration.
Larissa read law at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, completed her solicitor’s finals at the College of Law, London and studied at London Business School, where she completed her MBA. She holds a Licentiate from the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM) and a Fellowship of Trinity College London (FTCL). She was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours list in 2021.
Non-executive director
The main responsibilities of non-executive directors are to:
- attend meetings of the departmental board, chaired by the Secretary of State
- provide over-arching strategic guidance and insight to the department