Demet İkiler & Kirk McDonald Recognized on Empower 100 Executives Role Model List

The Empower Role Model lists, supported by Yahoo! Finance, celebrate leaders in business who are driving inclusion for people of color.

New York and İstanbul — 19 May 2022 — Today, GroupM EMEA CEO, and WPP Turkey Country Manager, Demet İkiler; and North America CEO, Kirk McDonald were recognized on the Empower 100 Executives Role Model Lists. The list spans three categories — Executives, Advocates, and Future Leaders — and celebrates those who are driving the charge for inclusion and diversity in businesses. GroupM is proud to see Demet and Kirk featured in the Empower 100 Executives Role Model List and recognized for their incredible achievements within the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Demet İkiler, GroupM EMEA CEO, and WPP Turkey Country Manager, said, “I’m passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, and taking an active part in every facet of DEI, especially gender equality, where I can create a positive impact. I work on breaking the bias both through my professional and volunteer work. Inclusion is part of all my decisions, talks, and meetings. I feel these concepts are hardwired in my DNA. Once you personally put a DE&I lens on in a broader sense, you start seeing everything differently, it does not need extra energy.”

“To change the face of the industry, we’ve invested in our people development while also removing the practices that unconsciously create talent sameness,” said Kirk McDonald, GroupM North America CEO. “Diversity is a business imperative for us and our clients, so we’re prioritizing new talent pipelines to attract diverse candidates and creating a culture that rewards inclusivity where everyone can thrive and fulfill their potential as we grow the next generation of media leaders.”

Suki Sandhu OBE, Founder & CEO of INvolve, which publishes the annual Empower lists, says, “I’m so thrilled to be celebrating this global group of trailblazing executives, future leaders and advocates for people of color in business. All the individuals within these lists are championing inclusion and, most importantly, leveraging their expertise and knowledge to drive inclusion initiatives and strategic change within their organizations. It’s vital that people of color within our global businesses can succeed and achieve authentically, and these Role Models are essentials drivers of change and are smashing barriers to progress to create organizations where people of color can thrive.”

The full Empower lists can be viewed here https://bit.ly/EMEx22

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