Dentsu, Americas, Releases Its First Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report
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NEW YORK, NY (May 12, 2021) – Dentsu, Americas, today released its first dedicated Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) report. The report outlines the company’s key areas of focus for DE&I, 2020 people representation data, and strategic framework for ensuring that diversity, equity and inclusion permeates all business operations, client and employee experiences and partnerships.
Taking a holistic approach to DE&I, the report is centered around four pillars of dentsu’s strategy: Transparency & Accountability, Representation & Sponsorship, Education & Continuous Learning, and Client & Community Impact. Collectively, these success pillars aim to increase diverse representation at all levels, create an even stronger culture of inclusion for all employees and produce powerful, representative campaigns with and for clients.“2020 was a year that made everyone rethink their DE&I strategy and ask an important question: how do we truly become an ally for BIPOC and underrepresented communities?” said Christena Pyle, Chief Equity Officer for dentsu Americas.
“We understand that to be champions for meaningful progress, we must do the work – not just say the words. This report is intentional in being both the first public record of accountability for our DE&I progress, and a way to celebrate the tremendous progress that has been made over the past year.”
Pyle who joined dentsu in August 2020, brought with her a strong track record for accelerating diversity, equity and inclusion outcomes for underrepresented communities across global organizations. She shares a commitment with the company’s Executive Leadership Team to move dentsu forward, as well as the industry and society.
Through an open ecosystem of partners and strategic programs, such as 4As, MAIP, and AAF Most Promising Multicultural Students, dentsu has invested in early pipeline development that creates equity and opportunity for talent across creative, media and customer experience management. Specifically, dentsu’s HBCU and HSI outreach programs aims to create more economic opportunity for Black talent through mentorship, career pathways and access. Established in 2020, dentsu’s Business Resource Groups – seven affinity groups organized around multicultural, interfaith, parents, military, enablement, pride and women empowerment – are critical to not only creating an inclusive culture at dentsu, but also driving business innovation with and for clients and partners.
With demographic changes over the next 30 years expected to deliver a new multicultural mainstream in the U.S., dentsu’s strategic Navigator series provides clients with a regular pulse on multicultural consumers’ needs, behaviors, perceptions and inequities.
In addition to regular thought leadership, dentsu has partnered with clients to invest in minority-owned,-operated and -targeted media partners, and address the inequities seen in the advertising supply chain. Through award-winning campaigns, such as Oreo Proud Parent, and the audio series More Than That with Gia Peppers and the Sports Emmy-nominated The Cost of Winning, dentsu strives to create a platform for the powerful and authentic stories of underrepresented communities in America.
“The events of 2020 unveiled the structural inequities that plague our nation and industry. We realized that we had work to do to create a truly inclusive and equitable culture at dentsu. We also realized that while we needed to act with urgency, we also had to be purposeful.” said Jacki Kelley, CEO of dentsu Americas.
“We committed that we would not mistake activity for progress, and that we would share when we had progress to talk about. This report shares that progress, it is our historical record of the previous year and an honest documentation of both our journey and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to not just improving representation and belonging, but also to creating a best-in-class employee experience, enabling our diverse talent to find their pathway to thrive and grow at dentsu and to help our clients and partners do the same.”
Looking ahead, dentsu’s focus areas for 2021 are centered on: embedding DE&I further into the business, solidifying leadership accountability, increasing representation through equitable policies, supporting courageous conversations and events that drive cultural fluency into daily ways of working, and collaborating with clients and industry partners to taking more action for progress.
About dentsu
Part of dentsu Group, dentsu is made up of seven leadership brands - 360i, Carat, dentsuX, iProspect, Isobar, dentsumcgarrybowen, Merkle - and supported by its specialist brands. Dentsu helps clients to win, keep and grow their best customers and achieve meaningful progress for their businesses. With best-in-class services and solutions in media, CXM and creative, dentsu operates in over 145 markets worldwide with more than 46,000 dedicated specialists. www.dentsu.com
Contact:
Jennifer Ferguson, Chief Communications Officer, dentsu Americas
Mobile: 917.797.6038
Email: Jennifer.Ferguson@dentsu.com