The top 10 global supplier diversity and inclusion champions have been revealed by WEConnect International, thanks to support from the National LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and Disability:IN.
This ranking, now in its third year, is the “only one of its kind in which some of the world’s largest corporations are recognised for having demonstrated a commitment to global diversity and inclusion by sourcing from diverse suppliers including minority-, women-, LGBTQ- and disabled-owned businesses around the world.” Merck tops the list this year, as the number one Global Champions for Supplier Diversity & Inclusion. Following Merck in the number one spot, are Kelly Services, IBM, Accenture, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, Intel, Ford, Randstad and EY.
Commenting on the honour, Susanna Webber, Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer at Merck, stated: “At Merck, we recognise the power of economic inclusion and supplier diversity and how the utilisation of diverse suppliers positively impacts our local and global communities. Economic inclusion and supplier diversity are central to Merck’s diverse and inclusive procurement practices.”
The results of “our investment in and development of diverse suppliers create a ripple effect”, Webber added. “We are a driver of growth, innovation, and our successes strengthen Merck’s competitive advantage. We’re honoured to be recognised as the top Global Champion for Supplier Diversity and Inclusion. This ranking shows that our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is core to who we are and we’re making a difference by driving innovation to create more equitable and inclusive economies.”
LEADERSHIP & FOCUS
“Merck has demonstrated its continued leadership and focus on global supplier diversity and inclusion results by empowering regional teams to collaborate and achieving one of the highest percentages of non-US diverse spend among all survey participants,” stated Elizabeth Vazquez, CEO and Co-Founder of WEConnect International.
THE TOP 10
The top 10 global champions for supplier diversity and inclusion, include:
1. Merck
2. Kelly Services
3. IBM
4. Accenture
5. Johnson & Johnson
6. Procter and Gamble
7. Intel
8. Ford
9. Randstad
10. EY
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Scoring was based on a variety of factors, including senior leadership support, scope, supplier development and, especially important, percent of global spend with diverse suppliers. Additional companies recognised as being “noteworthy” in their SD&I efforts include Adient, AstraZeneca, The Boeing Company, CDW, Cummins, Eaton, General Mills, GSK and Marriott International.
WEConnect International, a global non-profit that brings motivated, large corporate, multilateral and government buyers together with women-owned suppliers around the world, also conducts an annual survey, alongside the annual rankings. The findings revealed that:
- 80% of participants have a corporate policy that includes language on global inclusive sourcing.
- 88% of participants include diverse suppliers with request for proposals (RFPs) in each market (a 36% increase from 2020).
- 96% of participants accept Third-party Certification as a requirement for diverse suppliers.
- 76% of participants track diverse spend in each market in which they operate.
- 92% of participants have an executive level supplier diversity champion.
Supplier diversity and inclusion is a strategic business process aimed at providing companies owned by historically underutilised diverse groups; an equal opportunity to become suppliers to major corporations, governments and multinational organisations so that they can grow their businesses.
GLOBAL DIVERSITY SUPPLIER CHAMPION
Randstad sees its supplier diversity programme “as a way to positively impact minority communities; and as a competitive advantage for Randstad and our customers,” stated Randstad North America CEO and Executive Board Member Karen Fichuk. The company “is proud to create economic opportunities for underrepresented communities by supporting diverse-owned businesses throughout our supply chain”, she added.
“It is very important to us that our workforce and our supplier base represent the individuals that we help find jobs on a daily basis,” added Rebecca Henderson, CEO of Randstad Sourceright Global Businesses and Executive Board Member. “Randstad’s commitment to supplier diversity and inclusion is directly aligned with our ongoing efforts to provide equitable opportunities to those who need it most.”
Further underscoring the importance of its supplier diversity programme, Randstad North America recently hired Nino Campos as Global Supplier Diversity Manager. Campos has more than 13 years of experience building a diverse supplier base; and implementing creative strategies to achieve supplier diversity goals. Throughout his career, Campos has focused on locating, mentoring and developing diverse suppliers as part of sourcing and procurement strategies. “I am thrilled to welcome Nino as part of the Randstad North America diversity team,” commented Audra Jenkins, Chief Diversity Officer of Randstad North America. “Our diverse workforce helps us better understand the needs of those we serve and work with; and Nino’s expertise will further elevate our programme.”
US & UK companies are making plans to double their spend with diverse suppliers by 2025; as well as expand their supplier diversity programmes over the next few years, confirmed a new study. Click here to read more.
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