AAAA - American Association of Advertising Agencies
11/25/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/25/2024 11:55
Inside the decline of the chief diversity officer
Ad Age explores why agencies are laying off DE&I executives, while some fear cuts will only increase under Trump
Best practices for inclusion
Some agencies and industry groups maintain that eliminating or centralizing the chief diversity officer role could indicate a sign of progress. For some shops, said 4A's CEO Marla Kaplowitz, DE&I is more embedded throughout the entire agency and therefore is a priority for all C-suite leaders, versus one executive.
During the height of the pandemic in 2020, agencies faced financial pressures and mass layoffs but were also hiring chief DE&I officers because this foundation had yet to be established, Kaplowitz said.