We are thrilled to share the news that award-winning businesswoman and champion of the arts and enterprise, Susie Warran- Smith CBE DL, has been appointed to our board of trustees.
An entrepreneur with a background in art, design and brand development, Warran-Smith takes up the position of Chair, having served on the board of HMRC and the British Library.
She joins us as we mark more than a decade of innovation and research to help creatives pursue sustainable livelihoods and make the arts more accessible to all. Working at the intersection between the public and private sectors, we, at Creative United, are focused on building economic return and social impact through the effective use of creative talent and innovation.
Commenting on her appointment as Chair of the Board Susie Warran-Smith said:
“Art, music and design are a rich part of British culture. But it’s never been harder for creatives to make a comfortable living from their work. That’s why I’m delighted to be joining Creative United who have been champions in this area for more than a decade.”
“I look forward to working with the staff and our inspirational CEO, and I hope my experience and expertise as a creative entrepreneur will be helpful. I am particularly excited about working with my fellow board members who are all leaders in their fields.”
“We work across the whole of the UK and are determined to continue this important mission at a critical time for the creative economy”
Commenting on the appointment, our company’s founder and Chief Executive, Mary-Alice Stack said:
“Creative United has a strong history of harnessing research and innovation to make a tangible difference to creative life in the UK. We’re delighted to welcome Susie Warran-Smith as we address the very real challenges and opportunities for creatives today and in the future.”
On the recent government Spending Review announcement, she added:
“We’re pleased that government has recognised the creative industries as a key sector for driving economic growth – something we’ve believed and championed for the past decade. We’ve seen first-hand the multiple social and economic benefits our programmes have generated, from delivering incremental sales revenues for artists and craft makers to increased business confidence and capacity for micro-creative enterprises looking to develop and grow.”
“However, with a reduced overall budget for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, it’s vital we continue to demonstrate the benefits of investment in the cultural and creative industries through research and innovation. Susie’s addition to our talented Board of Directors will be critical to supporting Creative United with this mission objective.”
About Susie Warran-Smith
Susie Warran-Smith began her career immersed in the creative world, attending the University of Creative Arts alongside household names, Tracy Emin and Karen Millen.
A successful career in design, illustration and brand development followed. With a desire to ‘do something risky for once’ in her life, she founded the award-winning tax company, Breakthrough Funding with a distinctive brand following, which was sold to EY (Ernst & Young) in 2020.
In 2022 she became a Commander of the British Empire for services to small business in Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year Honours list and a Deputy Lieutenant of the county of Kent. For 6 years she was a non-executive member of the Audit and Risk Committee at the Department for Communities and Local Government (now the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) and is currently a non-executive Director for The British Library.
As Chair of Creative United, Susie leads a diverse board of directors who are all leaders in the creative industries. She succeeds outgoing Chair David Gilbert, who led the board since the company’s inception in 2013.
The Creative United Board members are: Sanaz Amidi, Suzanne Bull MBE, Katherine Hall, Professor Nick Henry, Hannah Kayi Mason, Susie Warran-Smith (Chair), Mary-Alice Stack, Rosie Wolfenden MBE.
Q & A with Susie Warran-Smith
Click the link above to learn more about Susie Warran-Smith; her professional background, her take on the biggest challenges faced by UK creatives today, why she wanted to join Creative United, and much more.