WPP Releases EEOC D&I Data, Forms Inclusion Council To Accelerate Change

WPP has released its EEOC workforce diversity data for the U.S., revealing that Blacks comprise 2.2% of the region’s senior/executive level managers, while Asians account for 5.7% and Hispanic/Latinos 5.8%. Whites account for 85%. The remaining portion of staffers not captured in the breakdown identify as members of other racial groups as defined by the EEOC.

The data is for 2018 as the collection of 2019 data was suspended by the EEOC due to the Pandemic.

Outside of the U.S. WPP is working to collect similar data (where such data collection is permitted) with the intention of publishing it in the firm’s annual sustainability report.

The data was released via a memo from CEO Mark Read, which also noted that the firm has formed an Inclusion Council to help accelerate improvement in WPP’s overall D&I picture.

“We are not proud of these numbers,” Read wrote, “and they demonstrate the scale of the task ahead of us.”

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Read’s memo, issued Thursday, followed the company’s unveiling of a broader plan for combating racism and advancing the careers of minorities in June.

The memo also noted the formation of a task force focused specifically on the challenges facing Black employees in North America comprised of WPP employees at different seniority levels that will have input from outside groups like the 3 Percent Movement, Advertising Club of New York and Fishbowl.

Read noted some steps the firm has taken in the last month including the rollout of new mandatory anti-racism and inclusion training for HR staff and leaders. Read said he has also reached out to major client CMOs to see how they might collaborate “to make change happen faster.”

Inclusion Council members include:

Ajaz Ahmed – CEO, AKQA
Mai Azmy – Managing Director, Wunderman Thompson Egypt
Karen Blackett – CEO, GroupM UK/UK Country Manager, WPP
Yolanta Boti – Creative, Ogilvy UK
Jacqui Canney – Chief People Officer, WPP
HS Chung – President, H&K Asia
Brian Ellner – Executive Vice President, Growth and Marketing, BCW North America
Michael Houston – Global CEO, Grey
Demet Ikiler – CEO, GroupM EMEA/Turkey Country Manager, WPP
Kevin Johnson – CEO, MediaCom Canada
Renee Lavecchia – Executive Director, VMLY&R Miami
Christina Mallon – Global Head of Inclusive Design and Accessibility, Wunderman Thompson
Kyoko Matsushita – Global CEO, Essence
Andre Passamani – CEO, Mutato
Lindsay Pattison – Chief Client Officer, WPP
Lwandile Qokweni – CEO, Wavemaker South Africa
Stacey Ryan-Cornelius – Global Chief Financial Officer/COO, Geometry
CVL Srinivas – India Country Manager, WPP
Selina Teng – President, Ogilvy Beijing
Stan Woodland – President & CEO, CMI

 

 

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