Pernod Ricard India boosts focus on diversity and inclusion

Pernod Ricard India (PRI) has introduced new measures to help build a more diverse and inclusive workplace culture for its employees.

The changes, which it hopes will enable employees to feel safe and to thrive at work, have been put in place in a bid to foster a more convivial workplace where equality is of supreme importance.

As part of the measures, PRI has looked at and adapted its recruitment across the organisation and set about to improve the representation of women across all levels of the corporate pipeline.

According to the drinks giant, its Indian arm has welcomed several women to key leadership positions including: chief human resources officer Nitu Bhushan; general counsel Bijoya Roy; head of corporate communications Dimple Raisurana Kapur; head of corporate affairs Yashika Singh; head of convivialite ventures India Sonam Jain and head of east zone Shikha Sayal.

The organisation has additionally appointed chief innovation officer Minoo Phakey and head of insights Shelley Sengupta along with one of India’s top voices on diversity and equality Zainab Patel as its head of diversity and inclusion.

Following the recent hires, a third of the leadership team at PRI  now comprises of strong female leaders from diverse industries, and has over 50% female representation on the shop floor in most of its manufacturing sites in the south and east of India.

Pernod Ricard India chief human resources officer Nitu Bhushan said: “At Pernod Ricard, we are focused on creating a convivial culture that enables our people to be their most authentic selves at work, empowered to thrive and grow in the organisation. Our aspirational goals and a comprehensive action plan aims to increase diverse representation at all levels and create an even stronger culture of inclusion for all of our people.”

Bhushan added: “An early co-relation of our emphasis on fostering an inclusive work environment that includes increased emphasis on diversity in our recruiting, in each of our departments, and in our leadership, is reflected in the continued strengthening of our business case and growth momentum at Pernod Ricard India.”

PRI has also recently renewed its group medical insurance policy to include same-gender partners and has begun an infrastructure audit to offer better access and mobility for specially-abled colleagues and visitors.

The company will also begin holding workshops and talks with industry leaders and experts to help educate its employees on fundamentals of diversity, equity and inclusion as part of its evolution.