Creative Diversity Network CEO Deborah Williams steps down

Deborah Williams (Source: CDN)

Creative Diversity Network (CDN)’s CEO Deborah Williams is stepping down from the UK broadcaster-backed organisation.

Williams had been in the role since 2016, working with member broadcasters such as the BBC and ITV as well as companies including Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, to help make the sector more inclusive and representative.

She had been a key force behind Diamond, the groundbreaking monitoring and reporting tool used by the UK’s main broadcasters to measure diversity on and off-screen and the impact of their initiatives to increase representation across the industry.

Diamond is now in its seventh year of operation and has also been used to provide reports into race and ethnicity, disability and the diversity of directors and writers working in UK television. Its 2023 report highlighted the ongoing decline of female execs in the UK’s TV sector.

Williams, whose exit comes four months after she was caught up in a controversy around liking allegedly antisemitic social media posts following Stephen Fry‘s Christmas speech on Channel 4, also drove CDN’s cross-industry initiatives for producers and broadcasters aimed at making workplaces and productions more accessible.

CDN pointed to the fact that her “impact [had been] recognised with various awards in the UK and internationally, reflecting her work advising television and creative industry bodies around the world on improving diversity and equality.”

Paul Moore, CDN chair, thanked Williams “for her service with CDN and her commitment over the past years to furthering diversity and inclusion in our industry. We wish her the very best for the future.”

Moore added: “This is a great opportunity to lead a unique and vital organisation whose role is to improve diversity and inclusion in UK television both in front of and behind the camera.

“Industry wide improvement will only happen by taking a collaborative, cross-sector approach. The CDN chief executive and their team have a key convening role to bring together producers, broadcasters, other organisations and individuals to widen the creative talent pool which will help ensure our industry thrives and remains world beating.”

UK headhunter Quicksmith is handling recruitment for her replacement.

CDN is backed by members from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Paramount, Sky, S4C, UKTV, Warner Bros. Discovery, alongside BAFTA, Pact, ScreenSkills and the British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust.