A representative of P&G receives the 2019 US Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence. — VNS Photo
Procter & Gamble (P&G) has received the 2019 Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) from the US Department of State’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs for championing gender equality through the P&G Asia Pacific WeSeeEqual programme.
The award, organised for the last 20 years, recognises companies that are responsible members of the communities where they do business, and promote and uphold high standards.
Asia, home to 19 of 20 of the world’s most dynamic cities, is a globally attractive destination for investment, capital and talent, according to the organisers. The youthful, increasingly well-educated population and growing middle class are poised to bring about explosive growth in the region.
However, gender parity is still greatly lacking, particularly at the highest echelons at the workplace. To ensure Asia’s continued growth and dynamism, it is essential that women assume full participation and leadership in businesses and economies to bring forth much needed diversity in vision, solutions and ideas.
P&G said it was strongly committed to promoting equality by actively working to uncover gender bias and myths that perpetuate the gender gap that exists in the workplace. The company is firmly committed to driving change in this area by focusing on where the company can make the biggest impact.
Magesvaran Suranjan, president of P&G Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, said: “It is a great honor to be a 2019 Secretary of State’s ACE Award recipient. P&G is proud to champion workplace policies under our WeSeeEqual programme to further our progress towards gender equality, while at the same time sparking conversation and meaningful action within the business community beyond P&G. Winning the ACE Award is a testament to our long-standing commitment to gender quality at all levels across all regions.”
P&G Asia Pacific’s WeSeeEqual gender equality programme improved female representation at all levels, with women now holding half of the company’s manager positions in the Asia Pacific region.
P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest brands, including Downy, Fairy, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Olay and Oral-B. — VNS