Biopharmaceutical company Sanofi has announced the launch of its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Board, the first-of-its-kind in the industry to feature outside advisors.
Sanofi’s DE&I Board will include three of the most influential voices in the DE&I space as Board members who are appointed for three years. They include organisational psychologist and best-selling author and NBA sportsman, John Amaechi; award-winning social entrepreneur and founder of The Valuable 500, the world’s largest CEO collective and business move for disability inclusion, Caroline Casey; and DE&I pioneer and renowned thought-leader Dr Rohini Anand, former Senior Vice-President Corporate Responsibility and Global Chief Diversity Officer for Sodexo.
Commenting on the appointment, John Amaechi said:“I am always excited to support organisations looking to ensure that whether for colleagues, stakeholders or consumers; they stand for fairness, equity and the preservation of human dignity. I am a scientist first and bring an understanding of what can work to performance through improving inclusion and equity in the context of a large, complex multinational company with a strong history and tradition. It’s clear there are many strong advocates within the company, and I am delighted to add my insights and expertise to those already present within Sanofi.”
ADDRESSING DISPARITIES IN HEALTHCARE
Dr Rohini Anand said she was also “thrilled” to join Sanofi’s DE&I Board as it gives her the opportunity to influence the critical need to address health care disparities globally. “With my experience in leading global DE&I transformations I am motivated to support Sanofi as it seeks to foster an equitable and inclusive culture that enables breakthrough innovations because it is the desired destination for diverse talent. I am impressed by the authenticity and humility with which the leadership approaches DE&I and its willingness and openness to learn from external thought leaders.”
Caroline Casey was also “honoured” to be joining the Sanofi DE&I Board which will support the strategic evolution of Business Inclusion focusing on the complex intersectional nature of diversity, equity, and inclusion. “As a supporter of removing the decisive siloed approach which has and continues to create exclusion and mistrust, I am proud to bring the voice of disability business inclusion front and centre of Sanofi’s strategy both as a person with lived experience and as the founder of The Valuable 500,” she added.
REVAMPED DE&I STRATEGY
Sanofi’s DE&I strategy was revamped in June 2021 with set objectives towards 2025, built around three key pillars. They include building representative leadership; creating a work environment where employees can bring their whole selves; and engaging with the company’s diverse communities. The DE&I Board’s role is to ensure Sanofi’s DE&I strategy is rightly executed; to monitor progress on the company’s 2025 targets; and to advise on how to accelerate the company’s impact in this space.
Together with the DE&I Board, Sanofi is launching a global Employee Resource Group (ERG) framework and five global focused ERGs. They include Gender+, Generations+, Pride+, Ability+ and Culture and Origins+. They will allow already existing local ERGs to scale and grow. ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups that help create a diverse and inclusive workplace. Critical in supporting their members’ professional and personal growth and in cultivating a sense of belonging, they ensure the company reflects, values and listens to its diverse employees’ communities.
DRIVING DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Commenting on the new initiative Paul Hudson, CEO of Sanofi, stated: “We’re committed to driving diversity, equity and inclusion in Sanofi and beyond. These new initiatives will help us bring the outside in, so we can hear, listen and learn faster; and grow stronger as we continue our DE&I journey.”
The DE&I Board is composed of eleven members, including seven members from Sanofi’s leadership, including Paul Hudson, Chief Executive Officer; Natalie Bickford, Chief People Officer; Olivier Charmeil, Head of General Medicines; Roy Papatheodorou, General Counsel & Head of Legal, Ethics & Business Integrity; John Reed, Head of Research & Development; Thomas Triomphe, Head of Vaccines, and Raj Verma, Chief Diversity, Culture & Experience Officer. Raj Verma will chair the DE&I Board. One member will be one of the company’s five global Employee Resource Group Leads; with rotation among all global ERG Leads on an annual basis. The DE&I Board will meet three times per year and progress on the 2025 targets will continue to be communicated on a quarterly basis.
Over the last few months, Sanofi has also launched several DE&I initiatives; including worldwide paid parental leave from 1 Jan 2022 to ensure workplace equality. Click here to read more.
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