A Message from Nationwide's CEO on the Derek Chauvin Trial Verdict

Here’s a message Nationwide’s CEO Kirt Walker shared with the company’s employees in the wake of the Derek Chauvin trial verdict: 

To: Nationwide Employees

Nearly one year ago, we stood together in unity as a Nationwide family, struggling to make sense of the tragic death of George Floyd and many others. We came together understanding that when one of us hurts, we all hurt. We issued a public statement condemning racism and discrimination in all forms. Most importantly, we reaffirmed our values with “We value people” being our top priority.

Our Unity Day was not the end, but the beginning of our commitment to doing even more, building on our decades-long legacy of leadership and philanthropic investments in the social justice space. We held powerful conversations through our Catalyst for Change program, acted on recommendations from our newly-created Social Justice Task Force and announced a $2 million commitment to support local and national programs dedicated to fostering social justice and fair housing. We pledged to do our part to be a force for good, holding ourselves accountable for advancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) at work and in our communities.

The days leading up to today's verdict have been an emotional journey for many of us. We recognize there is still much work to be done. How we react is critical to whether we're able to make lasting progress. Now is the time to continue listening to understand, engaging in productive conversations and taking action toward positive change.

I’d also like to remind you that Nationwide offers many resources that can help us connect and manage through unsettling times: the Employee Assistance Program, DE&I tools and resources, and a number of Employee Resource Groups.

At Nationwide, we value people. I'm proud of our long-standing history and the progress we've made to cultivate diversity, equity and inclusion, and encourage each of us to continue advocating for social justice and equity for all.

Kirt Walker, CEO