Sodexo sees some of its most senior female leaders gather in London to promote gender diversity

INFLUENTIAL UK media, business and political figures formed the panel on board Bateaux London’s mv Symphony to debate ‘The respective roles of business, society and Government in promoting gender equality’ in front of more than 100 people including 60 representatives from amongst Sodexo’s clients on Wednesday 4 December.

Foodservice Footprint PHOTO-Hazel-Blears-and-Debbie-White-300x199 Sodexo sees some of its most senior female leaders gather in London to promote gender diversity Foodservice News and Information Out of Home sector news  Sodexo UK & Ireland Sodexo Simon Fanshawe Hazel Blears Harry Gaskell Gender Equality Diversity Deborah Rowland Debbie White

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Facilitated by Sodexo’s global chief diversity officer Dr Rohini Anand, the panel consisted of:

 

  • The Right Honourable Hazel Blears MP
  • Deborah Rowland – head of FM policy and strategy for central government in the Cabinet Office
  • Simon Fanshawe OBE – writer and broadcaster
  • Harry Gaskell – managing partner of EY (formally known as Ernst & Young) and chair of the Employers network for equality and inclusion
  • Debbie White – chief executive officer of Sodexo UK and Ireland.

 

The event was arranged as part of a week’s activities in the capital for the Sodexo Women’s International Forum for Talent (Swift), a group of the most senior managers from across the global business. Swift is co-chaired by Dr Anand and Sophie Bellon – who was recently announced as the next chair of Sodexo Group and who also attended the panel debate.

 

Founded in 2009, Swift is committed to boosting female representation at all levels of management. In particular, Swift has set a global objective that by 2015 women will represent 25 per cent of Sodexo’s top 300 managers. So far the figure globally stands at 23 per cent, up from 17 per cent in 2008.

 

Across the world, women represent 38 per cent of Sodexo’s board of directors, 40 per cent of Sodexo’s management and in Europe 11 country chief executive officers are women.

 

Debbie White, chief executive officer of Sodexo UK and Ireland, said: “Sodexo has a very clear business commitment to gender diversity, and as a mum of three and a female chief executive I also have a very personal passion regarding this topic. It was a privilege to host Swift in London and I’m pleased to be able to share our experience of promoting gender equality across the globe to our clients and stakeholders in the UK and Ireland.

 

“Sodexo Group has an aspirational objective for 25 per cent of its top 300 managers to be women by 2015. In the UK and Ireland we’ve already surpassed that target, and 38 per cent of our executive team are women, which is a fantastic achievement.

 

“There is a clear role for businesses like Sodexo to encourage gender diversity in the workplace and the Government have a role in making businesses think differently. But ultimately, I believe society has a major role to play in bringing about the cultural changes that will improve gender diversity and equality: making that happen is everyone’s responsibility.”