Nonprofit Catalyst, responsible for accelerating progress for women through workplace inclusion, has announced the appointment of Accenture CEO Julie Sweet as its new Chair, along with eight other new Board members.
Sweet, a current Catalyst Board member, was elected as Board Chair on 18 March 2021. She succeeds former Lockheed Martin Chairman, President, and CEO, Marillyn Hewson. Sweet is also the third woman to chair the Board. She follows Hewson and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert; the first woman to serve as Catalyst Board Chair.
Hewson, who was elected as Board Chair in September 2019, served on the Catalyst Board of Directors for seven years. During her tenure as Chair, she helped Catalyst leadership successfully navigate through the pandemic; and provided considerable support through Lockheed Martin to Catalyst’s “Women and the Future of Work” research.
“I am proud of the meaningful work we’ve accomplished together at Catalyst. We’ve strengthened opportunities for women at every level, and we’ve supported women already leading in the workplace,” stated Hewson. “As I look to the future of Catalyst under Julie Sweet’s leadership of our outstanding Board, I am confident we can continue to expand hope, equality and leadership development for women.”
INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP
“Marillyn has been a model of inclusive leadership; and courageously helped lead Catalyst through these turbulent times,” stated Catalyst President and CEO Lorraine Hariton. “And we’re grateful to have Julie’s incredible vision, energy and expertise in leading our Board into the future.”
Commenting on the appointment, Sweet stated: “I am honoured to serve as the new Chair of the Catalyst Board; and would like to thank Marillyn Hewson for her outstanding leadership and vision. This is a pivotal time to rebuild and reimagine the world we live in; and in doing so, we can accelerate gender equality in all parts of business and society. I look forward to collaborating with our new Board members, along with Catalyst leaders and supporters, to drive a more inclusive and sustainable future for all.”
Named Accenture CEO in September 2019, Sweet is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum; and serves on the Board of Directors for the Business Roundtable. She also was named number 1 on Fortune Magazine’s 2020 ‘Most Powerful Women’.
OTHER NEW BOARD APPOINTEES
The eight other new appointees, who have also recently joined the Board, bring a wide range of experience to Catalyst. They include:
- Jim Fitterling: Chairman and CEO of Dow, who serves as Executive Sponsor of Dow’s Global African Affinity Network. He is a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ non-discrimination and workplace equality. He is also a member of the Out Leadership Global Advisory Board; and serves on the Boards of 3M, the Business Roundtable, the National Association of Manufacturers and the American Chemistry Council.
- Ilham Kadri: CEO of the Solvay Group, Chair of its Executive Committee and a member of the Board of Directors. He also serves on the Boards of AO Smith and L’Oreal.
- Paul Knopp: Chair and CEO of KPMG LLP. He also serves on the Boards of the Center for Audit Quality, Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, Partnership for New York City, and the US-India Business Council.
- Andrew McMahon: CEO and President of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America; and a member of the company’s Board of Directors. He also serves on the Boards of the American Council of Life Insurers, the Partnership for New York City and the New York State Insurance Advisory Board.
- Kristin Peck: Chief Executive Officer of Zoetis and serves on the company’s Board of Directors. She is also a member of the Business Roundtable; and Columbia Business School’s Advisory Board of the Deming Center for Quality, Productivity and Competitiveness. She is also named Fortune 2020‘s ‘Businessperson of the Year’.
- James Taiclet: Chairman, President and CEO of Lockheed Martin. He previously served as Chairman, President and CEO of American Tower Corporation.
- Hamdi Ulukaya: Founder and CEO of Chobani. He founded the Tent Partnership for Refugees (as reported) and named an Eminent Advocate by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). He is also a recipient of the Oslo Business for Peace Award; and named one of Time Magazine’s 100 ‘most influential people in the world’.
- Darryl White: Chief Executive Officer of BMO Financial Group. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Catalyst Canada Advisory Board.
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