This year’s European Diversity Awards winners were revealed at a star-studded ceremony in London on Friday 8th November.
These awards celebrate diversity and inclusion champions and honour achievements across all aspects of diversity. They include age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, social mobility, and sexual orientation.
Global organisations, corporate leaders, financial institutions, and a UK charity were among those recognized at the 2024 European Diversity Awards. Sponsored by Optum, the event was hosted by Sky News presenters Kamali Melbourne and Gillian Joseph and took place at the five-star InterContinental London Park Lane.
Teleperformance Portugal was named the Sedulo Diversity Team of the Year. Meanwhile, it was a big night for tech companies, highlighted by a performance from legendary disco group Boney M. Global IT innovation specialist Avanade had an impressive showing, with Barry Pettitt winning the Hero of the Year award, while NatWest Group’s Blessing Mutamba triumphed in a competitive category to win the Allianz Commercial Inspirational Role Model of the Year award.
INSPIRING COMPANIES
Leading companies including Colgate-Palmolive, Kearney, and TJX Europe vied for the highly sought-after DHL Group Company of the Year title, which was ultimately awarded to Kellanova. Ardonagh Advisory’s DisAbility Colleague Community received the Financial Times-partnered Outstanding Disability Network of the Year award, and Catalina Hernandez of Munich Re earned the Haleon-backed Head of Diversity of the Year accolade.
Avanade Italy took home the IHG Hotels and Resorts Marketing Campaign of the Year award for their Women in STEM campaign, which highlighted the accomplishments of female leaders in IT to inspire the next generation of women in STEM.
The EDAs also celebrated community projects and charities. PTC Therapeutics’ Community Team won the lululemon-sponsored Community Project of the Year, while disability charity Evenbreak was honored with the prestigious Optum Charity or Not-For-Profit of the Year award for their work in removing barriers to employment for the disabled community. They also received a generous £5,000 donation from Optum.
CELEBRATING EQUALITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE
The most eagerly anticipated award of the evening, Outstanding Commitment to Diversity, went to singing icon Beverley Knight MBE, in recognition of her advocacy for equality and social justice.
“These awards are all about recognising those who have gone above and beyond to champion diversity and inclusion, inspiring others to get involved as well,” shared Linda Riley, Founder of the European Diversity Awards. “The organisations and leaders we’re celebrating tonight demonstrate the significant efforts being made to create inclusive workplaces that truly embody these values. Together, we’re making a real difference.”
Adding to her comments headline sponsor Optum stated: “We are deeply honoured to be part of the European Diversity Awards. Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is central to our mission of helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone. Congratulations, on behalf of UnitedHealth Group, to all our winners!”
CELEBRATING 2024’S EDA WINNERS
lululemon Community Project of the Year
- Winner: PTC Therapeutics Community Team, PTC Therapeutics
- Highly Commended: Pass it on, &Co & European Parliament
IHG Hotels & Resorts Marketing Campaign of the Year
- Winner: Women in STEM, Avanade Italy
- Highly Commended: Pass It On, &Co & European Parliament
Sanofi HR Diversity Champion of the Year
- Winner: Zsofia Komaromi, Publicis Groupe Hungary / Publicis Groupe CEE
- Highly Commended: Ben Higgins, Societe Generale
EmployAbility Social Mobility Initiative of the Year
- Winner: Social Mobility Strategies, TJX Europe
- Highly Commended: www.CareLeaverMentoring.co.uk, Goal 17 Ltd
Optum Charity or Not-For-Profit of the Year
- Winner: Evenbreak
Sedulo Diversity Team of the Year
- Winner: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Team, Teleperformance Portugal
- Highly Commended: EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) Directorate, The University of Manchester
HSBC Europe Outstanding Employee Network of the Year
- Winner: Cancer & Work Affinity Group, Sanofi
- Highly Commended: Family Matters Network, UBS UK
myGwork Outstanding LGBTQIA Network of the Year
- Winner: LGBTQ+ Pride, Bank of America
- Highly Commended: Global Pride+ ERG, Sanofi
Financial Times Outstanding Ability Network of the Year
- Winner: DisAbility Colleague Community, Ardonagh Advisory
- Highly Commended: disABILITY ERG, HSBC Innovation Banking
Toyota Motor Europe Outstanding Ethnicity Network of the Year
- Winner: embRace, E.ON
- Highly Commended: Fusion, Macquarie
Ruebik Outstanding Women’s Network of the Year
- Winner: Women’s Network, EDF UK
- Highly Commended: Business Women’s Network, SAP
Hero of the Year
- Winner: Barry Pettitt, Avanade
- Highly Commended: Rebekah Riddell, Canada Life Asset Management
Allianz Commercial Inspirational Role Model of the Year
- Winner: Blessing Mutamba, NatWest Group
- Highly Commended: Morgan Bondiek, Johnson Matthey plc
HSBC Innovation Banking Women in Technology
- Winner: Emily Hall-Strutt, Next Tech Girls
- Highly Commended: Plamena Cherneva, Nordic Women in Tech Awards
Haleon Head of Diversity of the Year
- Winner: Catalina Hernandez, Munich Re
- Highly Commended: Simone Coultress, Johnson Matthey plc
Diversity in Technology
- Winner: WeWALK Smart Cane 2, WeWalk Limited
- Highly Commended: ARC / HOK / UWS
Abercombie & Fitch Diversity Champion of the Year
- Winner: Piers Linney, Sky UK Ltd
- Highly Commended: Colin Kimber, Pareto Facilities Management Ltd
DHL Group Company of the Year
- Winner: Kellanova
- Highly Commended: Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Ltd
Outstanding Commitment to Diversity
- Winner: Beverley Knight MBE
RELATED ARTICLES
Check out 2024’s European Diversity Awards finalists here.
CHECK OUT LAST YEAR’S EUROPEAN DIVERSITY AWARDS WINNERS HERE.
CHECK OUT LAST YEAR’S EUROPEAN DIVERSITY AWARDS FINALISTS HERE.
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