Diageo's Chief HR Officer, Louise Prashad, is recognised on the 2022 EMpower Ethnic Minority Role Model Lists  for championing inclusion.

Louise is joined by Diageo Chief Executive, Ivan Menezes, and General Counsel & Company Secretary, Tom Shropshire, who also appear on the list. 

Diageo Chief Executive, Ivan Menezes

Diageo General Counsel & Company Secretary, Tom Shropshire

Setting ambitious goals 

“I am honoured to be included in this year’s Empower Ethnic Minority Role Model Lists, alongside Ivan and Tom. We want to be a company where every employee can thrive, and we have set an ambitious goal that 45% of our leaders globally will be from ethnically diverse backgrounds by 2030," comments Louise. "We believe we are the first global company to have set ethnic diverse goals on a global basis, and to date 82% of our employees have voluntarily disclosed their ethnicity confidentially. We know that diverse leadership brings new ideas, challenges preconceptions and drives better performance."

"Building a diverse workplace where everyone can thrive is both the right thing to do, and a key enabler to help our business grow. That’s why we’re especially proud the Empower Ethnic Minority Role Model Lists have recognised Diageo leaders for the 5th year consecutively, for actively driving a more inclusive working environment," says Diageo. 

Building a diverse workplace 

The Empower Role Model Lists showcase leaders who are breaking down barriers for people of colour within global business.

The inclusion of Louise, Ivan and Tom is in recognition of their ongoing work to champion diversity throughout their careers, and the businesses’ future commitments, including 45% ethnically diverse representation across its leadership by 2030.

Tom is also the Executive Sponsor of REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage), Diageo’s employee-led network established for our ethnically diverse employees and allies, and along with Louise and other leaders also has close involvement with the AHEAD (African Heritage Employees at Diageo) resource group in North America.  

Inclusion and diversity action plans 

For the first time, in 2022 the Empower Role Model Lists are fully global and nominations included business leaders working all over the world. Lists are published annually and showcase 100 Senior Executives, 50 Advocates and 100 Future Leaders.

To turn its words into action, in 2020 Diageo developed a progressive Ethnic Diversity Framework to support its markets in defining ambitious five-year stretching inclusion and diversity action plans, and over the last 18 months 97% of employees around the world have completed Confronting Racial Bias training.

Beyond its business, to champion ethnic diversity with its suppliers and partners, Diageo has asked its marketing agencies to share details of representation of their ownership for the first time and committed to spending 10% with diverse owned and operated businesses by 2025, to ensure diversity is embedded across its whole value chain.

In addition, around the world Diageo is making local commitments, including pledging $10 million to support 25 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in North America to develop future leaders.

Breaking barriers at work 

The Empower Role Model Lists, supported by Yahoo Finance, showcase leaders who are breaking down barriers at work and smashing the ceiling for people of color within global business.

These inspirational leaders are paving the way when it comes to increasing representation and driving inclusion for others within the workplace.

Diageo champions diversity in the workplace 

Diageo believes it is crucial to create a culture with inclusion and diversity at its heart.

Want to work and feel valued as an employee?

Search the job vacancies at Diageo. 

Find out more