Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has reached its target of having 30 per cent of its leadership positions comprised of women, including Board, senior executive and management positions, ahead of its target date of 2020.
CCA group managing director Alison Watkins said that it would still keep challenging itself with more diversity goals that the company will announce in 2020.
It released a 2018-19 report on Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) which shows 34 per cent of its management are female, across its national operations, ahead of Australia’s national average of 23.5 per cent of women in management in manufacturing.[
“Gender diversity in business has shifted from being the ‘right thing to do’ to being the smart thing to do. An extensive 2016 study by Credit Suisse found companies with more female executives deliver stronger market returns. A diverse leadership also brings a wider range of experience and views, leading to stronger decisions,” Watkins said.
“There’s no doubt that gender diversity is particularly important in FMCG, with women comprising many of our customers and influencing over 80% of consumer purchasing. So there’s plenty of good social and commercial reasons to pursue gender diversity, and we’re proud to have reached the milestones outlined in this year’s WGEA report.”
Watkins said Amatil still has more to do to urge women to pursue leadership roles in management and in sales.
“Line management roles are critical in generating the CEO’s and senior leaders of the future. Boards generally look for potential leaders with direct experience in running commercial operations, and that includes line management in areas like supply chain and sales,” added Watkins.
“Presently only one in four of Amatil’s line managers are female, so there’s work to be done in encouraging more of our extremely talented women to step up.”
CCA has several projects for women including the Acceleration and Empowerment program in Indonesia; the Women in Warehousing program with Workskil Australia and The David Gonski Women in Leadership program.
