Sophie Brendel - Director of Audiences, Commercial & Digital, V&A

Sophie Brendel is the Director of Audiences, Commercial & Digital at the V&A, the family of museums dedicated to the power of creativity.

Responsible for building the V&A’s global audiences, brand and commercial income, and placing the visitor at the heart of the V&A, Sophie leads the Brand & Marketing, PR & Communications, Digital, Front of House, Retail, Catering, eCommerce and Brand Licensing teams across the V&A's family of museums, from the iconic V&A in South Kensington, to Young V&A in London’s Bethnal Green, V&A Dundee in Scotland, the V&A Wedgwood Collection in Stokoe-on-Trent, and two new museums at V&A East, currently under development in East London’s Olympic Park.

Prior to joining the V&A, Sophie held a number of senior roles at the BBC and Thomson Reuters in the UK and USA. As Head of Digital Communications at the BBC, she led PR and communications for digital, technology and innovation across the BBC, and oversaw the BBC’s corporate websites, blogs and social media activity. Sophie is a trustee of Bristol Old Vic theatre and the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, and is on the advisory board for the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration.