The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia recently announced that Brian L. Roberts will be the recipient of the 2022 William Penn Award. 

Roberts is the chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation. The William Penn Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a business executive in the Greater Philadelphia region.

“The innovative work Brian Roberts has done at Comcast to provide connectivity, and entertainment while supporting our communities is unmatched,” said Chamber President & CEO Chellie Cameron, in a statement. 

She added that Comcast is “a major driver of inclusive growth in our region,” and is proud to work closely with leaders like Roberts “to continue to bolster Greater Philadelphia’s economic vitality.” 

Roberts has worked at Comcast since he graduated from University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School in 1981. He was named President of the company in 1990. 

When he initially became President, the corporation had $657 million in annual revenue. Today, it has approximately 189,000 employees worldwide and $116 billion in annual revenue. Under his leadership, Comcast has grown into a global conglomerate that uniquely positions itself at the intersection or media and technology. 

The William Penn Award has been handed out annually since 1949, and recognizes an individual for their outstanding contributions toward the betterment of the region, professional accomplishments, and commitment to charity, as well as to the community.

“I’m humbled to receive this most prestigious award and to join a truly remarkable group of past honorees,” said Roberts in a statement.

One of the past recipients of the William Penn Award is Mr. Ralph Roberts, Comcast founder and the late father of Brian.

“I am grateful to the Chamber of Commerce and look forward to continuing our work together to make Philadelphia a fantastic place to live and work,” Roberts added. 

This is just the latest honor Roberts will receive for his leadership in business and industry endeavors.

He was previously recognized by Barron’s as one of the “World’s Best CEOs,” named a “Businessperson of the Year” by Fortune magazine, and named one of America’s top CEOs by institutional investor magazine 17 times. Roberts was also a recipient of the Humanitarian Award from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the Pennsylvania Society’s Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement Award, and the Philadelphia Award.

“It is because of outstanding leaders like Brian that the Chamber can continue to fulfill its mission to build a strong business climate, increase economic inclusion, and accelerate economic competitiveness in the region,” said Michael Innocenzo, chair of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.

Roberts will be honored during the William Penn Gala on Thursday, April 20, 2023.