Sylvia Bailey, née Grice (born 24 January 1962), is a former chief executive of Trinity Mirror, the UK's largest newspaper publisher, and a non-executive director of EMI from 2004 to 2007."Mrs Sly Bailey Authorised Biography
Debrett's She was named as one of the "50 Most Powerful Women in Britain" by '' Management Today''. She was also named as one of the top 20 most influential figures in media by MediaGuardian and as one of the top 50 most powerful businesswomen outside the United States by ''Fortune''. She left Trinity Mirror, six months earlier than planned, in June 2012.Mark Sweene
"Sly Bailey to leave Trinity Mirror immediately"
''The Guardian'', 15 June 2012

Early life

She was educated at St. Saviour's and St. Olave's Grammar School for Girls, in

Southwark Southwark ( ) is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed ...

, south-east London. In 1978 she briefly attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.

Career

Bailey began her career as a

make-up artist A make-up artist, also called a makeup artist, and often shortened to MUA, is an artist whose medium is the human body, applying makeup and prosthetics on others for theatre, television, film, fashion, magazines and other similar productions inc ...

for Revlon. In 1984 she joined '' The Guardian'' newspaper working in advertising sales. Bailey became advertising manager at '' The Independent'' newspaper in 1987.

Trinity Mirror

Bailey joined Trinity Mirror as chief executive in February 2003. On 30 June 2008, Trinity Mirror issued a trading statement forecasting a 10% reduction in anticipated profits, leading to a collapse in the share price to a low of 73.5p, compared to its 12-month high of 557.5p. '' The Independent''s media columnist Stephen Glover pointed out that the company's market value had slumped from £1.5 bn to £250m, and commented: "... it is difficult to see how Sly Bailey, Trinity Mirror's preposterously well-rewarded chief executive, can remain much longer in her job . . . " In July 2011 Bailey launched an investigation into editorial controls and procedures at Mirror Group newspapers following allegations of phone hacking. In October 2011, Bailey became the first serving media proprietor to appear at the

Leveson Inquiry The Leveson Inquiry was a judicial public inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the British press following the News International phone hacking scandal, chaired by Lord Justice Leveson, who was appointed in July 2011. A series of ...

into phone hacking. Late on 3 May 2012 it was announced that Bailey was to leave her post at Trinity Mirror by the end of the year,Josh Halliday and Lisa O'Carrol
"Trinity Mirror chief executive Sly Bailey steps down"
''The Guardian'', 3 May 2012 but she in fact left in mid June. The General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists,

Michelle Stanistreet Michelle Stanistreet (born 1974) is an English trade unionist and journalist, now General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). She is the first woman to hold the post her post at the NUJ – she was previously deputy secretary.NUN ...

, said of her at the time: "Finally, Sly Bailey is doing the decent thing and leaving the company she has led into monumental decline." Reportedly, she received a £900,000 payoff.Roy Greenslade & Mark Sweene
"Bailey goes – with a £900,000 payoff"
guardian.co.uk (Greenslade blog), 15 June 2012

Other activities

Sly Bailey has been on the

Press Association PA Media (formerly the Press Association) is a multimedia news agency, and the national news agency of the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is part of PA Media Group Limited, a private company with 26 shareholders, most of whom are national and re ...

board since 2003. She was awarded an Honorary Degree from the University of East London in 2005.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bailey, Sly 1962 births British chief executives British media executives British women in business Living people People from Dulwich The Guardian people The Independent people Reach plc Women business executives 20th-century British businesswomen 21st-century British businesswomen