Shutterstock names Meeckel Beecher as Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Creative platform Shutterstock has announced the appointment of Meeckel Beecher as the company’s Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I). 

In this position, Beecher will advance Shutterstock’s global DE&I strategy, to ensure the brand and product offerings are diverse and representative of its people, and of the communities Shutterstock services globally. A well-respected thought leader across social impact, diversity and inclusivity, Beecher brings over a decade of extensive experience to this role.

As Shutterstock’s Head of DE&I, Beecher will be responsible for leading all aspects of the firm’s global DE&I strategy, working closely with the senior leadership team, DE&I Council, as well as its employee resource Groups. They include ShADEs (Afro-Descendant Employees); Todos Juntos (Hispanic and Latinx employees); Women@Shutterstock; Prism (which supports members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies); and Seasons (supporting generational employees). 

EXCEPTIONAL DE&I LEADERSHIP

Beecher will ensure that DE&I is considered at every possible opportunity; and will create and facilitate safe spaces for honest feedback and dialogue around DE&I, while building trusted partnerships, credibility and influence across the business.

“We are proud of the rich mix of backgrounds and perspectives at Shutterstock, and we want our employees to come to work as their authentic selves, where they can share their ideas, experiences and perspectives to fuel the creative and innovative products we deliver to our customers,” stated Sara Birmingham, Chief Human Resources Officer at Shutterstock. “I am delighted to have an exceptional leader like Meeckel join us to further our mission of building a workforce that is, at all levels, representative of the diverse global community we serve.” 

BUILDING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS

Beecher joins Shutterstock from Altice USA, where he served as Director of Community Affairs. There, he partnered with various stakeholders to incorporate DE&I best practices across the business, and in community engagement programmes, and collaborated with the company’s Employee Resource Groups to build engagement and impact. He also has notable experience in communications and corporate social responsibility.  

Commenting on the new appointment, Beecher stated: “In light of the events of the past year, upholding values of diversity, inclusivity, representation and respect, have never been more important, nor more urgent. I am honoured to be joining Shutterstock, a company that keeps these principles at the forefront of everything they do. And I look forward to amplifying and executing the DE&I strategy to ensure we build meaningful connections with our customers and employees on a global scale.”