7 November 2014
Diageo wins prestigious gender diversity awards
Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol, was announced as the winner of the ‘Large
Corporate’ category at the prestigious Breaking the Mould Awards , held at The Institute of
Directors, Pall Mall on Tuesday night . Diageo was recognised for the success of its diversity and
leadership programmes globally, beating off competition from other large multinational
companies in the financial and engineering sectors. Diageo impressed the judging panel with
the original and rigorously monitored programmes which have been implemented to boost the
numbers of senior women executives at the company
The Breaking the Mould Awards, in partnership with the Institute of Directors and in association with
the 30 % Club and The Mail on Sunday, were set up to celebrate those companies doing the most to
create a pipeline of female leaders of the future.
Leanne Wood, Human Resources Director, Diageo plc, said: “I am delighted that we have won a
Breaking the Mould Award in the Large Corporates category. These awards celebrate forwardlooking companies doing their utmost to ensure women are well represented in their boardrooms
and executive teams whilst also creating a pipeline of talented senior women for future leadership
roles. With over 40% of both our Board and Executive Committee and almost 30% of senior
leadership population being women, we can be proud of our leadership in this area.
“It is gratifying for us to be recognised for our inclusive culture. We are committed to the promotion
of diversity and the development of female talent within our organisation, particularly amongst such
a strong peer group.
“At Diageo, our approach is driven by a core belief that winners in global business will be those who
harness the benefits of diversity. We are dedicated to nurturing talent, effectively promoting
professional growth, and celebrating a diverse workforce. As our business grows across the world we
must be able to access every talent pool, and ensure we create an environment in which diversity of
perspective and experience is fully embraced.”
Secretary of State Vince Cable said: “Many companies are making great progress towards gender
parity in their boardrooms and these awards recognise that achievement. There is, however, still
some way to go. We need to see the pace of recruitment increase within the FTSE 100 to reach our
25% target by 2015.
“We must strive for balanced representation in Britain’s companies. I congratulate tonight’s winners
for their example and I urge companies of all sizes to address female representation from the top to
the bottom of their workforce.”
Lisa Buckingham OBE, founder of the Awards and Senior Diversity Adviser to the IOD,
said: “Congratulations to all winners for a well-deserved win. I’m delighted that these first Awards
were such a success.
“These awards not only recognise forward thinking companies with the most creative pipelines but
encourage a sharing of best practice so that all companies will see what can be done and in time
seek to emulate the very finest of what is being celebrated at these awards.”
Lord Sugar’s former right-hand woman Margaret Mountford brought her expertise and razor-sharp
wit to the Awards, joining Sir Roger Carr, Chairman of BAE Systems and Chair of our Judging Panel
and Business Secretary Vince Cable.
Lisa Buckingham OBE added: “The fuse has been lit and business knows that unless it voluntarily
moves towards better balanced boardrooms legislation will come to set quotas.
“The belief that women will rise to the top without some kind of new corporate thinking no longer
exists.
“When Lord Davies produced his recommendations that 25 per cent of board positions should be
filled by women by 2015 there was a rush to appoint female non-executives. It became quickly
apparent, though, that without a pipeline of top executive women this would be tokenist.
“The Breaking the Mould Awards are designed to encourage companies voluntarily to move towards
the goals of Lord Davies and The 30% Club without having to face the iron fist of government or
European Commission action.
“I am thrilled at the enthusiasm with which these Awards have been met by businesses, professional
service companies, the public sector and not for profit organisations. I hope others will be inspired
to enter in future years.”
END
Contacts:
Diageo plc press office:
Tel.: 0044 208 978 2749
Email: [email protected]
The winners announced were:
Large Corporate – Diageo - The global drinks group whose diversity programmes mean it now has
some of the highest senior female representation of any FTSE company. 40 per cent of executive
committee members are women while almost 30 per cent of senior leadership roles are held by
females.
Professional Services – EY - One of our largest consultancy organisations focussed its substantial
submission this year on its career watch programme for high performing women and ethnic
minorities. Results so far show better performance, more promotions and higher retention rates.
Public Sector – The Environment Agency - Probably better known for coping with last winter’s
floods than with issues of diversity. The agency undertook a thorough analysis of gender equality in
2009 and since then has taken a pro-active approach through a wide-ranging series of programmes
with impressive results.
Medium-sized Corporate – Atkins Global - A leading design, engineering and project management
company which is passionate about improving gender diversity and encouraging more women into
engineering. With initiatives overseen by its gender balance focus group, Atkins has seen a
reduction in female resignations and an increase in women graduates. The company has also
undertaken widespread unconscious bias training.
SME – Timewise - A Social business dedicated to flexible work. It now has 50,000 talented people on
its books and has 13 corporate partners willing to look again at the ‘old world’ approach to work.
Through its power part time list, Timewise is determined to show that you can do a senior role part
time.
Charity/Not for Profit – Working Chance - A charity set up to help women ex-offenders into quality
jobs thereby reducing the rate of re-offending. Although small, Working Chance has created its own
apprentice scheme for serving prisoners and former offenders – successful apprentices now make
up 40 per cent of the staff.
Overall winner – Lloyds Banking Group - Lloyds Banking Group have made a commitment to being a
leader in gender diversity and has set itself targets for the numbers of women in its top executive
positions. Targets are championed at the very highest level and there has already been a significant
increase in the proportion of women being promoted to executive level.
About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits,
beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s,
Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don
Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world.
The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange
(DEO). 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.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
About The Breaking the Mould Awards
Founded by Lisa Buckingham OBE and Gaynor Pengelly, the Awards celebrate forward-looking
companies which have schemes in place to ensure women are well represented in their boardrooms.
Three years ago Lord Davies of Abersoch, Patron of the Breaking the Mould Awards, recommended
to government that 25 per cent of board positions should be filled by women by 2015. Unless
business voluntarily moves towards these targets for better balanced boardrooms, government will
intervene. New corporate thinking is needed and that is what the Breaking the Mould Awards seek
to recognise.