Adweek Unveils Its New Diversity and Inclusion Council, Bringing Together C-Suite Champions to Focus on Advancing the Marketing Industry With Scale and Impact

NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Adweek, the leading resource for the brand marketing and advertising community, today announced the launch of a new advisory committee: The Adweek Diversity and Inclusion Council. This new committee enlists 23 of the marketing industry's leading Chief Marketing Officers, Chief Brand Officers, Chief Executive Officers, Brand Presidents, and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officers at the helm of some of the world's most renowned brands.

The founding members of the Adweek Diversity and Inclusion Council are:

•     Anas Ghazi, Growth Officer and D&I Steering Committee Member of Kantar
•     Brad Hiranaga, CBO of General Mills U.S.
•     Carla Hassan, Global CBO of Citi
•     Diego Scotti, CMO of Verizon
•     Elizabeth Rutledge, CMO of American Express
•     Jason White, CMO of Cura Cannabis Solutions
•     Kenny Mitchell, CMO of Snap Inc.
•     Kim Perell, CEO of Amobee and Author of The Execution Factor
•     JoAnn Neale, President and Chief Administrative Officer of MLS, Major League Soccer
•     Linda Johnson Rice, CEO and Chairman of Johnson Publishing Co.
•     Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council
•     Marcel Marcondes, U.S. CMO, Anheuser-Busch InBev
•     Monique Nelson, CEO of UniWorld Group
•     Nuno Teles, President of Diageo Beer Company
•     Rodney Williams, CEO and President of Belvedere
•     Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD
•     Shelley Zalis, CEO of The Female Quotient
•     Singleton Beato, Chief Diversity & Engagement Officer, McCann Worldgroup
•     Stephanie Buscemi, CMO of Salesforce
•     Steven Wolfe Pereira, Chairman & CEO of Encantos
•     Suzanne Kounkel, CMO of Deloitte U.S.
•     Tiffany R. Warren, Senior VP, Chief Diversity Officer of Omnicom Group and Founder & President of ADCOLOR
•     Tim Ellis, CMO of the NFL

Nadine Dietz, Chief Community Officer of Adweek, will work in partnership with the council and other industry organizations to develop more opportunities to advance Diversity & Inclusion at all levels in all organizations. This effort will include multiple initiatives, including a new Adweek Mentor Program that will be announced in the coming weeks, as well as working across the industry to collaborate on creating or surfacing meaningful diversity and inclusion measures for marketers to lead change in their organizations.

"In today's world, it is imperative that leaders are intentional in how they foster a culture of innovation through diversity and inclusivity," Dietz says. "At Adweek, we are stepping up our efforts to equip marketing leaders and their teams with the tools required for success. This council provides voices from marketing, chief executives and presidents, and leading industry ambassadors to drive this change throughout organizations."

The council will focus on awareness, collaboration and impact. "Once you're conscious of your unconscious, change happens. Awareness is the first step to creating accountability — and it's up to all of us to advocate for equality and create cultures of care," Shelley Zalis, CEO of The Female Quotient said. "If we all embody the principles of inclusive leadership, the industry will transform…together."

"The need for more diversity and inclusivity across the marketing industry has been widely recognized, but the progress has been inconsistent," Tiffany R. Warren, Senior VP, Chief Diversity Officer of Omnicom Group and Founder & President of ADCOLOR said. "The time to take a stand for equality is now and we can make real, long-lasting change through authentic, real world initiatives that make everyone feel that they are the center of attention and not on the margins of our respective creative industries."

Adweek has been at the forefront of covering and advocating for Diversity and Inclusion for years, having published more than 150 articles in the past eight months and today is committing to a larger program starting with enhanced editorial coverage, a new dedicated podcast for D&I and a mentor program which will commence in a few weeks.

"As a beacon for the advertising and marketing community, Adweek is deeply committed to improving our industry, furthering the conversation among leaders and initiating the dialogue around important topics like diversity and inclusion," said Jeffrey Litvack, Adweek's Chief Executive Officer. "As an active member of the community, Adweek is focused on providing more insights, education and solutions across all industries. We're thrilled to launch this new Diversity and Inclusion Council and are looking forward to the positive changes, influence and impact that will come out of this collaborative program."

Click here to learn more about Adweek's D&I Council.

For all press inquiries, please contact: pr(at)adweek.com.

About Adweek
Adweek is the leading source of news and insights serving the brand marketing ecosystem. First published in 1979, Adweek's award-winning coverage reaches an engaged audience of more than six million professionals across platforms including print, digital, events, podcasts, newsletters, social media and mobile apps. As a touchstone of the advertising and marketing community, Adweek is an unparalleled resource for leaders across multiple industries who rely on its content to help them do their job better.

SOURCE Adweek