The Taylor Bennett Foundation has today announced the appointment of Avril Lee as Chair of the Board of Trustees.
As Chair, Avril will lead the Board of Trustees and act as an ambassador for the Foundation at a time of strategic growth and will replace Kuldeep Mehmi who has been sitting as Interim Chair since November 2024. Working in close partnership with CEO Koray Camgöz, she will play a central role in strengthening the Foundation’s profile, shaping its future direction, and broadening its reach and impact across the UK.
Avril brings extensive experience to the role, having held senior leadership positions at some of the UK’s most respected communications agencies, including Zeno, MSL, Burson, and Ketchum, where she served as CEO. With more than 25 years in health communications, she is a trusted advisor on brand building and reputation management, particularly in the healthcare sector, with a strong focus on improving health equity for diverse communities.
A long-standing advocate for equity and inclusion, Avril chairs the Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ (CIPR) Diversity and Inclusion Network. She is also a Trustee of Doctors of the World UK and sits on the DEI Advisory Board of Our Future Health. Her contributions to the communications industry have been recognised with several major accolades, including the CIPR’s Sir Stephen Tallents Medal, an Honorary Fellowship, and the inaugural BME PR Pros Award for Lifetime Achievement.
The appointment follows an independent recruitment process led by Starfish. She succeeds Interim Chair Kuldeep Mehmi, who took over from Sarah Pinch after her seven-year term as Chair of the Taylor Bennett Foundation.
Kuldeep Mehmi, Interim Chair of the Taylor Bennett Foundation, said:
“Having supported the Foundation since its earliest days, Avril brings not only a wealth of experience but also a deep, personal understanding of our mission. Her track record speaks for itself, but it’s her ability to bring people together around a shared purpose that truly sets her apart. It has been a privilege to serve as Interim Chair, and I’m proud to pass the baton to Avril. I am confident that under her guidance, the Foundation will continue to thrive and inspire the next generation of diverse communicators.”
Avril Lee, Incoming Taylor Bennett Foundation Chair commented:
“It’s truly a great honour to become the Chair of the Taylor Bennett Foundation, a charity that has pioneered change in the communications industry for over 15 years and has the outstanding achievement of launching and supporting the careers of hundreds of great BME PR professionals.
“From being an ambassador for TBF when it first launched to hosting agency visits and hiring alumni, I’ve been a supporter and admirer of this great charity since the beginning, and am excited to become part of one of the leading organisations campaigning for and building a diverse comms community. I’m very grateful to the Trustees, Koray and the team for their support and am looking forward to working with them.”
Koray Camgöz, CEO of the Taylor Bennett Foundation, adds:
“Avril’s leadership will bring fresh energy, strategic clarity and deep-rooted commitment to our core mission of increasing ethnic diversity in communications. Her commitment to that mission throughout her career has been inspiring, and I’m thrilled to welcome her to the Foundation.
“This is a pivotal moment for the Foundation. We’re entering a new chapter of growth, as we seek to double our alumni community to 2,500 by 2030 – not just in number, but in influence. As conversations around inclusion grow louder and, at times, more divisive, our focus is clear: to work together with employer partners to build cultures where diverse talent isn’t just welcomed, but empowered to lead. Our mission has never been more vital – or more urgent.”
About the Taylor Bennett Foundation
The Taylor Bennett Foundation (TBF) is a UK-based charity dedicated to increasing ethnic diversity in public relations and communications. Established in 2008 by executive search firm Taylor Bennett (now Taylor Birchwood), with support from Brunswick Group, the Foundation aims to empower Black, Asian, and minority ethnic talent to pursue and thrive in communications careers.
Over the past fifteen years, we have helped over 1,200 young people to start their PR and communications careers through professional development programmes. We offer fully paid, award-winning training, mentoring, and internship programmes in partnership with leading industry agencies and FTSE 100 companies. Beyond career guidance, our education and leadership programmes support participants from entry-level to executive leadership.