According to Campaign US, Wunderman Thompson has appointed Ezinne Okoro as its first global chief inclusion, equity and diversity officer.
In the newly created role, Okoro will report directly to Wunderman Thompson global CEO Mel Edwards. She will set the agency’s vision and strategy for creating a more inclusive workplace in 90 markets across the globe.
Okoro was previously the first inclusion and diversity officer for fast-fashion retailer H&M North America. She was invited to join Wunderman Thompson when the agency began pulling together an internal framework to address equity and inclusiveness as a cohesive global effort.
She will start by looking internally to understand the structures and systems in place at the agency that prevent equity and inclusiveness, while assessing where the agency has already made progress across different markets.
Focus will vary depending on what issues are most prevalent in a given market. Ageism and gender disparity is a major problem in Asia, for example, whereas representation and inclusiveness of BIPOC employees is a key issue in the United States.
“If I look at diversity in Nigeria, it’s going to look very different from diversity in the U.S.,” Okoro said. “Understanding the nuances of each country will be critical.”
A core focus across the board will be to understand why diversity tapers off after the junior and mid-level. “What is causing that breakdown and what can we do better as a company to close that gap?” she said.
