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 forFacebook, and also sits on the board ofDiageo.The Daily Telegraph has called her "the most powerful woman in the British tech industry".[2]
From 1989 to 1992, she attended theUniversity of Leeds, graduating with a bachelor's degree in English and Theatre Studies, and was active in Jewish causes.[7][8][9]
Mendelsohn originally planned to attend drama school and become an actress, but on a friend's recommendation decided to explore advertising instead.[10] After working atBartle Bogle Hegarty, she became Deputy Chairman ofGrey London in April 2004.[7] In April 2008 she became partner and executive chairman atKarmarama, a London advertising agency.[7][9]
In 2013 she was hired asFacebook's advertising Vice President for EMEA, ending the company's half-year search to replace outgoing VPJoanna Shields.[8][11][4][12]
In September 2014 she became a non-executive director ofDiageo.[4][15] 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.[7][14][15]
Also in 2015,Computer Weekly ranked Mendelsohn number 34 on its "50 Most Influential Women in UK IT 2015",[17] she was named one of the Most Inspiring Women in European Tech by the Inspiring Fifty organisation,[18] andDebrett's included her on their "People of Influence" in the Debrett's 500 2015 list.[4]
In 2014 she was included onGQ's list of the 100 Most Connected Women in Britain,[19] and ranked number 85 onThe Jewish Chronicle's Power 100 list.[20]
In 2013, she ranked number 69 onThe Guardian's "MediaGuardian 100 2013".[21] In 2011 she was named one ofAdvertising Age's "Women to Watch".[14] In 2005Management Today included her on its list of the top 35 women under 35 in the business world.[22]
OnWorld Cancer Day (4 February 2018)[26] she made public that she had been diagnosed withfollicular lymphoma, an incurable cancer of the blood.[27] Mendelsohn said that she made the announcement to raise awareness about the cancer, describing it as not rare but little-known.[28]
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.[29]
