She had been women’s sport editor at the Telegraph

Anna Kessel Sky Sports

Sky Sports has appointed Anna Kessel as its executive director of development.

Kessel will look to drive the broadcaster’s plans to engage more fans across platforms, build an inclusive culture, and continue to position Sky Sports as the UK’s largest broadcaster and investor in women’s sport. She will be part of the Sky Sports senior leadership team.

Kessel joins from the print world, where she had most recently been women’s sport editor at the Telegraph for the past three years. She has also worked at the Guardian and Observer as a sports writer, where she spent 15 years.

Thanks to her work in journalism and sport, she is the recipient of an MBE, and she is a co-founder of Women in Football.

Kessel said: “I am delighted to be joining Sky Sports as executive director for development, in a new role working across women and men’s sport. At a time when sport increasingly seeks to reflect the world we live in, I am excited by Sky Sports’ vision for the future which feels bold and innovative, placing value on new audiences and ideas.”

Managing director of Sky Sports Jonathan Licht added: “It is the perfect time to be bringing someone of Anna’s expertise into the team as we look to build on the hard work done to establish our position as the UK’s largest broadcaster of and investor in women’s sport.

“Anna will help deliver our goals on growing audiences, work with the leadership team and our partners to drive our inclusive culture ambitions and, more broadly, ensure that we continue to be the best partner to sport.”