General Motors was one of the top automakers recognized on the annual diversity scorecard, lagging only behind Ford and Toyota.
The Detroit News reported Friday that GM was one of the top automakers to promote and include minority populations in employment, philanthropy and marketing materials. The Rainbow Push Coalition publishes the diversity results each year.
Reverend Jesse Jackson, president and co-founder of the coalition, and said GM, Ford and Toyota reflect “best practices” in the industry. GM scored very well in diversity among dealers, though Ford and Toyota outdid GM in advertising and procurement. Among 12 other automakers, Fiat-Chrysler finished in the middle of the pack. Other automakers, such as VW and BMW finished towards the bottom of the 2018 scorecard.
GM has been a key proponent of diversifying its workforce under CEO Mary Barra. Specifically, Barra has thrown her weight behind hiring more female engineers and promoting minorities to leadership roles within the automaker. Most recently, GM named Dhivya Suryadevara as is new chief financial officer. She succeeded Chuck Stevens who retired this year.
Suryadevara was also named a “Woman Leader to Watch” by Forbes.
Under former GM CEO Dan Akerson, the automaker also created a “chief diversity officer” position in 2012. Capt. Kenneth J. Barrett became the automaker’s first CDO.
On the dealership front, GM has also worked to bring on more minority-owned franchises. In 2015, GM brought on 12 minority-owned dealers and nine women-owned ones. In 2016, GM said minority-owned dealers are often slightly more profitable than other dealerships. It explained the quality of the candidates normally leads to greater success when compared to other dealers.
Comments
This is all nonsense. Hire the most qualified person. I want a great product built with the highest standards, not the gender/race/sex equal vehicle.
Thanks,
Concerned Customer
Amen!
Producing quality products AND employing/marketing for a diverse population actually is possible. One does not necessarily exclude the other.
Yes you either want the best people or you want to virtue signal, that’s it.