WPP Leaders Recognized in Empower 2022 Global Role Model Lists
WPP leaders have been named to the Empower 2022 Global Role Model Lists for breaking down barriers and advancing the inclusion of people of color in business.
Fifteen leaders from across the multinational were rewarded.
The lists, compiled by INvolve and backed by Yahoo Finance UK, celebrate 100 executives, 100 future leaders and 50 advocate role models from across industries for their work championing inclusion and driving strategic change at within their organizations.
Ten senior WPP executives were included in the 100 Executives list: kirk mcdonaldCEO North America, GroupM; Dionne AikenMarketing Director, Kantar; Debbie EllisonGlobal Digital Director, VMLY&R Commerce; Traci DinkinsPresident – Head of Media, North America, Essence; Demet IkilerCEO EMEA, GroupM and Country Manager Turkey, WPP; Akama DaviesGlobal Practice Lead, Digital OOH, Xaxis; Shelina JanmohamedVice President – Islamic Marketing, Ogilvy; Dorothee Burwellpartner, Finsbury Glover Hering; Sabrina Natasha BrowneVice President – Corporate Affairs, BCW; Apoorva BapnaDirector of Culture – India, WPP.
VMLY&R Group Director, Customer Engagement Nikeisha Beckford and Senior Director of Talent Development Francis Carrero Green both are on the list of future leaders.
CEO of WPP Mark as read tops the Advocates list, which identifies leaders who create diverse and inclusive business environments, with jessica walchManaging Director – Health at H+K Strategies and Jennifer RemlingChief People Officer of WPP, also recognized.
Lily said, “For WPP, a diverse and inclusive culture is a business opportunity as well as an imperative. Building teams with different backgrounds and experiences helps us better understand our audiences, innovate, and produce the best work for our clients.
“Ultimately, our success rests with our people and I’m proud of what we’re doing together at WPP to create a culture where people feel like they belong and want to be part of it,” he said. he adds.
Suki Sandhu OBE, founder and CEO of INvolve, said: “I am thrilled to celebrate this global group of leaders, future leaders and advocates for people of color in business. Everyone on these lists champions inclusion and, more importantly, leverages their expertise and knowledge to drive inclusion initiatives and strategic change within their organizations.
“It is vital that people of color within our global businesses are able to succeed and be authentically successful, and these role models are essential drivers of change and breaking down barriers to progress to create organizations where people of color can thrive” , he added.
In 2020, WPP announced a series of commitments to fight racial injustice and support black and minority ethnic talent, investing $30 million over three years to support anti-racism charities and women. inclusion programs.
This includes our Racial Equity Program which funds projects that help bring about change, and the expansion of WPP’s Elevate sponsorship program designed to support black women in their career growth. WPP has also introduced various candidate selection policies in the UK, US and Asia-Pacific, has roles specifically marketed and accessible to candidates from underrepresented groups, and encourages young talent to create a diverse pipeline. .
Our NextGen Leaders learning series welcomed 1,500 people from 60 countries to its 2021 cohort – with half of participants identifying as Black, Asian or Latinx, while WPP’s partnership with Colorintech, The Update, is an initiative aimed at dark tech professionals looking to accelerate their careers in the creative industry.
To ensure progress is driven by accountability, WPP created a Global Inclusion Council in 2020 that gives voice to underrepresented groups and advises on goals, identifies barriers and recommends new systems , and in 2021 introduced DE&I measures related to executive compensation and quarterly reviews. .
Empower 100 executives:
• Kirk McDonald, CEO North America, GroupM (7)
• Dionne Aiken, Marketing Director, Kantar (10)
• Debbie Ellison, Global Digital Director, VMLY&R Commerce (13)
• Traci Dinkins, President – Head of Media, North America, Essence (18)
• Demet Ikiler, CEO EMEA, GroupM and Country Director for Turkey, WPP (23)
• Akama Davies, Global Practice Leader, Digital OOH, Xaxis (29)
• Shelina Janmohamed, Vice President – Islamic Marketing, Ogilvy (42)
• Dorothy Burwell, Partner, Finsbury Glover Hering (60)
• Sabrina Natasha Browne, Vice President – Corporate Affairs, BCW (67)
• Apoorva Bapna, cultural director – India, WPP (74)
Empower 100 future leaders:
• Nikeisha Beckford, Group Director – Customer Engagement, VMLY&R (34)
• Francis Carrero-Green, Senior Talent Development Manager, VMLY&R (97)
Empower 50 Defenders:
• Mark Read, CEO, WPP (1)
• Jessica Walsh, Managing Director – Health, Hill + Knowlton Strategies (30)
• Jennifer Remling, Director of Human Resources, WPP (32)
