Diageo North America Among 50 Best Companies for Diversity and Inclusion, Again Named to Diversity MBA’s “50 Out Front” List

Company Ranks Best in Class for Diverse Representation in Leadership Roles, Employees Named to Exclusive Emerging Leaders List
Aug 2, 2016 2:15 PM ET

NORWALK, Conn., August 2, 2016 /3BL Media/ – Diageo North America has once again been recognized by Diversity MBA’s prestigious “50 Out Front for Diversity Leadership” list of the best places in the country for women and diverse managers to work. This is the fifth consecutive year that Diversity MBA, a national leadership organization, has named Diageo to the list.  Diageo was ranked 18th overall, and also identified as Best in Class for representation of women and people of color in the most senior leadership roles.  Additionally, Diversity MBA selected three Diageo North America employees for its “Top 100 Under 50” list, which recognizes diverse executives and emerging leaders.

For the 2016 “50 Out Front” list, Diversity MBA evaluated more than 500 companies; those making the final list were selected based on scores for representation, board diversity, recruitment, workplace inclusion, retention, succession planning and accountability.  Diversity MBA’s Inclusive Leadership Index identifies companies for Best in Class recognition that have demonstrated consistent and excellent systems and practices.  This also measures the impact of their diversity and talent management strategies.  Companies, like Diageo, who were recognized as Best in Class for the Representation category, were those companies that have made significant progress year over year in the consistent and timely advancement of people of color into the most senior leadership roles.

The organization’s “Top 100 Under 50 Diverse Executive and Emerging Leaders” list recognizes leaders who embody higher education, workplace inclusion and community commitment. Three Diageo employees were among this year’s honorees, all in the Emerging Leaders category:

  • Lisa Lee, Brand Manager, North American Whiskey
  • Kyra Patterson, Director, Diversity & Inclusion
  • Kamilah White, Talent Engagement Business Partner, Supply

“At the core of our business strategy is our commitment to helping employees be their best, and therefore we strive every day to build an inclusive culture where employees can feel engaged, passionate, supported and valued for who they are,” said Tara Hunt de Vries, General Counsel and Senior Vice President Human Resources, Diageo North America.  “Congratulations to the three outstanding employees recognized by Diversity MBA as Emerging Leaders, who truly bring to life our inclusive values.”

"With the changing dynamics of the global population, American companies are investing more and more resources in creating inclusive cultures that are diverse. CEO commitment is at an all-time high, where leaders understand that the employers of choice are providing great places to work,” said Pam McElvane, CEO, Diversity MBA. "Although we recognize it is a journey to create inclusive diverse cultures, we are excited to celebrate the intentional progress these companies are making to ensure that their employees and leaders represent the diversity of the consumers in the marketplace.”

These recognitions from Diversity MBA are part of a growing list of awards Diageo’s North American business has earned for its commitment to inclusion and diversity. Additional recent honors include:

  • Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality, earning a perfect score of 100% for the ninth consecutive year by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation (2008-2016) 
  • Best Places to Work for New Dads Report by Fatherly (2016)
  • Top 50 Companies for Executive Women by National Association of Female Executives (NAFE): (2010, 2012-2016)
  • 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers for the seventh consecutive year by Working Mother Magazine (2009-2015)
  • Best Workplaces in Canada for eighth consecutive year (2009-2016) 
  • Best Places to Work in Illinois for the third consecutive year (2014-2016)

In addition to inclusion and diversity, social responsibility and environmental sustainability are core to Diageo’s values.  Diageo cares passionately about people enjoying its brands responsibly, and reducing alcohol related harm in society through its own programs and partnership and collaboration with others.  Diageo is recognized as a global leader in environmental sustainability and its progress and commitments to tackle climate change have been independently recognized around the world.  For more on Diageo’s responsibility and sustainability efforts, visit http://www.diageo.com/en-us/csr/sustainability/Pages/default.aspx .

Honorees of the “50 Out Front List” and recipients of the “Top 100 Under 50” awards will be honored at Diversity MBA’s Annual Business Leaders Conference & Awards Gala in September. For more information, visit www.diversitymbamagazine.com.

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

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