Diversity is one of the biggest problems facing the PR
profession, which is still a predominately white -- and quite
chummy -- world despite dramatic changes in the country's
demographics (see PR News, Feb. 9, 2005).
DiversityInc, a New Brunswick, N.J.-based firm focusing on how
to enhance diversity throughout the workplace, last week released
its 2005 "Top Companies for Diversity List" (see chart for the Top
50).
It's a testament to how much more seriously corporate America is
taking diversity that 72% more companies participated in this
year's rankings compared with just two years ago; 13 companies that
submitted data for the first time landed a spot on the coveted
list.
"This is not Cinco de Mayo diversity, but a group of extremely
different companies," says Luke Visconti, partner and co-founder of
DiversityInc, which publishes the nine- times-a-year DiversityInc
(150,000-circ.) and a companion Web site that is updated daily
(http://www.diversityinc.com).
What's more, the most diverse companies (as an index) are
competitive with leading market indexes for one-, three- and
five-year returns. For more on this year's winners, go to http://www.DiversityInc.com.
Contact: Rachelle Pachtman, 212.996.1715, [email protected]
| Top 50 Companies For Diversity: The Ranking |
|
|---|---|
| 1 | ALTRIA |
| 2 | TURNER BROADCASTING SYSTEM |
| 3 | CITIGROUP |
| 4 | PEPSICO |
| 5 | ABBOTT LABORATORIES |
| 6 | THE COCA-COLA CO. |
| 7 | XEROX |
| 8 | ALLSTATE INSURANCE CO. |
| 9 | VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS |
| 10 | KRAFT FOODS |
| 11 | FORD MOTOR CO. |
| 12 | MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL |
| 13 | KEYBANK |
| 14 | PEPSI BOTTLING GROUP |
| 15 | SBC COMMUNICATIONS |
| 16 | SEARS ROEBUCK & CO. |
| 17 | HEALTH CARE SERVICE CORP. |
| 18 | TRIBUNE CO. |
| 19 | PITNEY BOWES |
| 20 | HSBC NORTH AMERICA |
| 21 | NEW YORK LIFE |
| 22 | AMERICAN EXPRESS CO. |
| 23 | GENERAL MILLS |
| 24 | MERCK & CO. |
| 25 | JPMORGAN CHASE |
| 26 | BANK OF AMERICA |
| 27 | PROCTER & GAMBLE |
| 28 | KNIGHT RIDDER |
| 29 | WAL-MART |
| 30 | IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS |
| 31 | WACHOVIA |
| 32 | PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL |
| 33 | BAUSCH & LOMB |
| 34 | COMERICA BANK |
| 35 | UNILEVER |
| 36 | METLIFE |
| 37 | SPRINT CORP. |
| 38 | SUNTRUST |
| 39 | COLGATE-PALMOLIVE |
| 40 | WELLS FARGO |
| 41 | STAPLES |
| 42 | BELLSOUTH |
| 43 | VISTEON CORP. |
| 44 | EASTMAN KODAK CO. |
| 45 | CINGULAR WIRELESS |
| 46 | NIELSEN MEDIA |
| 47 | CHUBB CORP. |
| 48 | GENERAL MOTORS |
| 49 | MASTERCARD |
| 50 | SC JOHNSON |