Nationwide elevating role of chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer

Citing the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to the success of its enterprise, Nationwide announced that its Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) position will now have a matrix reporting relationship to CEO Kirt Walker and Chief Administrative Officer Gale King.

Since assuming the role of Nationwide’s CDO in December 2018, Angela Bretz has helmed Nationwide’s DEI office and continued the focus on the company’s response to the social justice conversation.

“The elevation of the chief diversity officer to a reporting relationship to the CEO and to Gale King, our Chief Administrative Officer, speaks to the enhanced strategic importance this role plays for our future success,” said Nationwide CEO Kirt Walker. 

The company has a long-standing commitment to DEI and expanded its advancement of social justice in 2020, a year marked by social unrest and the demonstrated importance of diverse perspectives.

Among the past year’s initiatives, the Fortune 100 company reasserted commitments to influence positive change, create opportunity and support social justice with multi-year, multimillion-dollar investments to local and national programs, such as the National Fair Housing Alliance, the Equal Justice Initiative and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Nationwide employees and the Nationwide Foundation also made contributions to these nonprofit social justice partners through a Social Justice Giving campaign.

“As we look at our continued DEI aspirations for the coming years, Angela is uniquely positioned for continued success,” said Chief Administrative Officer Gale King. “Her leadership of inclusion to help drive engagement, innovation and business results will enable us to continue building our reputation as a career destination and a company that values the perspectives of all. Her role also includes diversity recruitment strategies for attracting, engaging and assessing diverse talent to drive business success.”

Nationwide consistently earns top workplace awards, including:

• 2020 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For (six consecutive years)
• 2019 Fortune 100 Best Workplaces for Diversity (four consecutive years)
• 2019 Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve U.S. Freedom Award
• 2018 Catalyst Award for supporting women in the workplace
• Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality, Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index (17 consecutive years)
• Latina Style 50 Best Places to Work (eight consecutive years)
• Black Enterprise Best Companies for Diversity (three consecutive years)

Related News:

• Working for a better tomorrow (November 17, 2020)
• Nationwide Financial and industry partners join forces with Historically Black Colleges and Universities to promote equity and inclusion (September 17, 2020)
• Promoting workplace diversity by being an ally (August 25, 2020)
• Unlocking solutions to the homeownership gap (July 22, 2020)
• Planting seeds for healthier neighborhoods (July 17, 2020)
• Nationwide adding investments to fight racism (June 12, 2020)
• Working to End Racism (June 12, 2020)