ViacomCBS grows Knight’s inclusion role

ViacomCBS has promoted London-based Wincie Knight to VP of global inclusion strategy at ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI).

Wincie Knight

Knight will report to Marva Smalls, executive VP of global inclusion at ViacomCBS and executive VP, public affairs, kids and family entertainment brands at ViacomCBS Media Networks and Maria Kyriacou, president of VCN UK, Australia and Israel.

In her expanded role, Knight will continue to drive the company’s commitment to building a strong, inclusive culture that embraces diversity, inclusion and belonging.

The promotion comes after VCNI recently announced plans to expand its No Diversity, No Commission policy in the UK to make it a company-wide initiative in more than 180 countries.

Knight, whose previous role was senior director of global inclusion strategy, started at Viacom in 1999 and joined the office of global inclusion team in 2014 as senior director of global inclusion strategy.

Knight led Viacom UK’s first ‘inclusion week’ in 2018, which was then expanded in 2019 to cover all ViacomCBS offices in more than 30 countries.

In her new role, ViacomCBS said Knight will join the UK cluster senior leadership team, oversee the development of insights-driven strategic plans for diversity and inclusion across VCNI and foster “innovative and inclusive business behaviours at all levels of the company.”

Knight will lead a team to deliver diversity and inclusion objectives in the UK and Europe, Israel, Middle East, Africa and Asia, and work with the company’s senior leadership and the office of global inclusion to ensure an aligned approach across VCNI, the US media giant added.

“ViacomCBS is committed to championing a culture that is diverse, equitable and inclusive, and that creates a sense of belonging for all employees. Having worked with Wincie for 20 years, I am confident her appointment will further our mission to embed a vision and strategy that places inclusion, equity and belonging as the core of our company culture and business,” said Smalls.