Insurance giant
Aviva has, for the first time, appointed a director who will lead the company’s inclusion and diversity strategy on a full-time basis.
The insurer has named Jan Gooding as global inclusion director, a new role that she will formally assume in January 2017. She currently serves as group brand director.
“I am thrilled to have been appointed into this role with all the challenges and opportunities that go with it,” Gooding said. “The business case has been evidenced again and again across the world: people perform better at work when they can be themselves.”
Gooding joined Aviva in 2008 and played a key role in establishing the brand. Most recently, she developed the “Good Thinking” campaign which launched in the UK at the start of 2016.
She said the creation of the global inclusion director role is another example of the company’s “Good Thinking” initiative.
“Varied and balanced voices lead to improvements in creativity, productivity and profitability in every sector,” she said.
Gooding had advocated diversity and inclusion in her roles as chair of trustees at LGBT charity Stonewall and as member of the executive committee for Women in Advertising and Communications London.
Aviva said Gooding’s appointment signals its “continued ambition and commitment to lead the financial services sector in creating a more open culture in the workplace.”
“Building a strong culture of inclusive diversity is central to Aviva’s future success. Every one of our customers is different, just as every one of our people brings something different to work,” said Aviva chief people officer Sarah Morris.
“Inclusion isn’t just about gender or ethnicity, or sexual orientation or age,” she added. “It’s about ‘people’ and making sure we recognise the diverse talents, experiences and perspectives of everyone at Aviva. It makes good business sense.”
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