Tag: Press Release

EDGE Strategy announces the appointment of Yishai Pinchover as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective September 1st, 2024. This strategic hire aligns with the company’s ongoing expansion of its suite of DE&I tools, which includes its recently launched pay equity analysis solution.

Yishai brings substantial experience in operational leadership, business development, and technology innovation to EDGE Strategy. As the co-founder and former COO of CodeMonkey, an EdTech platform later acquired by TAL Education Group, he successfully scaled the company’s reach to over 10 million students worldwide, demonstrating his ability to make a global impact.

Aniela Unguresan, Founder and CEO of EDGE Strategy, comments on the appointment: “Yishai’s expertise in scaling operations and driving business growth aligns well with our strategic objectives. His innovative approach and proven track record will be valuable as we continue to expand our global impact and support organisations in leveraging DE&I as a core pillar of their sustainable success.”

Regarding his new role, Yishai Pinchover states: “I am pleased to join EDGE Strategy at this important juncture. The company’s dedication to fostering workplace equity through innovative solutions is commendable. I look forward to optimising operations, accelerating business development, and expanding the reach of EDGE’s software platform across industries and borders.”

This appointment underscores EDGE Strategy’s commitment to operational excellence, business growth, and continuous innovation in DE&I solutions. With Yishai’s leadership and the company’s expanding portfolio of tools, EDGE is well-positioned to reinforce its role as a global leader in fostering inclusive workplaces and driving positive organisational change.

Yishai concludes, “Our aim is to effect meaningful change in workplace equity and inclusion on a global scale.” This sentiment aligns closely with EDGE Strategy’s mission and marks the beginning of a new phase in the company’s development.

Standard Chartered Sri Lanka recently attained the EDGE Move Certification, the second highest level of certification from EDGE, the leading global assessment and business certification standard for gender equality. Notably, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka is the only organization in the country to have achieved the EDGE Move Certification, underscoring its leadership in fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. Crucial to obtaining this recognition is the company’s use of EDGE Empower^®, the tech solution that prepares organizations for EDGE Certification^®.

Key findings

The assessment highlighted several of Standard Chartered Sri Lanka’s strengths and identified opportunities for further advancement. In terms of representation, women are more likely to be hired overall, showcasing the bank’s inclusive hiring practices. Moving forward, the focus will be on creating pathways for women’s promotions, particularly into Upper and Top management roles, to ensure balanced leadership. Men and women are well-represented in core functions across all management levels, reflecting strong gender diversity in the bank’s central activities. The next step involves enhancing women’s representation in roles with profit and loss responsibility at Upper and Top management levels.

In terms of pay equity, the results of an unexplained gender pay gap analysis were not included. Standard Chartered Sri Lanka has taken proactive steps to ensure pay equity, which is commendable. A majority of employees, both women (66%) and men (72%) agree that they are fairly compensated for their work, emphasizing the bank’s commitment to fair pay practices.

When considering the effectiveness of policies and practices, the organization exceeds the EDGE Standard of 65% in all 5 areas of analysis.

Continued Commitment

Standard Chartered Sri Lanka is dedicated to building on this achievement by implementing a strategic action plan to address the identified gaps. Key focus areas include maintaining gender parity in critical role succession planning, identifying female talent at the Middle Management level and assisting them to progress into the Senior Management level through structured interventions and continuing to review any gender pay gaps on an annual basis.

Voices of leadership

Mr. Bingumal Thewarathanthri, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka: “We are incredibly proud to achieve the EDGE Move Certification. This recognition reflects our ongoing efforts to create an inclusive workplace where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive. We are committed to addressing the areas identified for improvement and continuing to drive progress in gender equality.”

Aniela Unguresan, Founder of EDGE Certified Foundation: “The EDGE Move Certification achieved by Standard Chartered Sri Lanka exemplifies their intentional and prioritized approach to fostering gender equality in the workplace. This recognition indicates that the organization has not only made a committment to gender equality but has taken concrete steps to transform that commitment into action. We congratulate the Standard Chartered Sri Lanka team on their unwavering dedication to creating an inclusive environment where diversity is deeply integrated into their business practices through accountability, transparency, and independent verification. This achievement showcases how dedicated DE&I efforts can drive significant progress, setting a high standard for the industry.”

About Standard Chartered

Standard Chartered is a leading international cross-border bank, committed to helping people and businesses prosper. Combining deep local expertise with global capabilities, Standard Chartered aims to unlock sustainable, inclusive growth for the communities it serves.

About EDGE Certification^®

EDGE Certification^® is the leading global standard for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I), centred on a workplace gender and intersectional equity approach. EDGE Certification^® is based on objective and measurable evidence of an organization’s current status of gender and intersectional equity in its workplace. Audited by an approved independent third-party certification body, it supports the integrity and credibility of data and information and gives an organization a powerful way to communicate its DE&I commitment and performance.

The EDGE Standards and the Certification System are built on four pillars that define success in gender and intersectional equity: Representation across the talent pipeline, pay equity, effectiveness of policies and practices, and inclusiveness of the culture. As an integral part of the assessment, statistics, policies and practices, and employee experience are evaluated against the EDGE Standards. Depending on the specific results of each organization, an approved action plan may need to be developed to close identified gaps in the organization.

EDGE Certification^® meets organizations where they are in their DE&I journey. For the EDGE (gender-binary) assessment, three levels of certification are possible, EDGE Assess (recognizing commitment), EDGE Move (showcasing progress), and EDGE Lead (celebrating success). EDGEplus Certification (gender and intersectionality) is an add-on to EDGE (gender-binary) Certification, offering organizations the possibility to analyze data and information related to women and men as diversified groups, to deepen their understanding of, and to measure the intersectionality of gender and other aspects of diversity, such as non-binary gender identity and LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, nationality, age, and working with a disability. EDGE Certification^® is distinguished by its rigour and focus on impact, it remains valid for a period of two years. For more information and the complete list of EDGE Certified Organizations, visit https://www.edge-cert.org/certified-organizations/

FONPLATA Development Bank, formerly the Río de la Plata Basin Financial Development Fund, is a multilateral financial entity formed by the five countries of this South American sub-region: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It proudly announces achieving the EDGE Assess Certification in 2024, showcasing its commitment to gender equality and an inclusive workplace.

Key Highlights of FONPLATA Development Bank’s Achievements:

• Gender Representation: Both genders exceed the threshold for substantive representation (30%) at most levels of responsibility, demonstrating a commitment to equitable representation.
  
• Intersectional Equity: FONPLATA Development Bank also achieved EDGEplus Certification, showing its commitment to investigating intersectionality between gender, age, and nationality through the employee survey.
  
• Core Functions: Women are overrepresented in core functions at top management both in relative and absolute terms, reflecting progress in gender inclusion at higher levels.
  
• Diverse Workforce: The age and nationality diversity within the workforce, especially at junior management levels, underscores FONPLATA Development Bank’s inclusive hiring practices.

While celebrating these successes, FONPLATA Development Bank acknowledges areas for improvement, particularly in addressing gender balance in promotions and hires, and enhancing policies and practices related to pay equity and flexible working. The company remains committed to addressing these challenges and advancing its goal of creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

FONPLATA Development Bank’s Ongoing Commitment

FONPLATA Development Bank remains steadfast in its commitment to gender equality as a fundamental principle and a key driver of sustainable development. Promoting gender balance and empowering women are essential to realizing our mission of fostering inclusive growth and development. FONPLATA Development Bank is dedicated to leading by example within our organization and in the broader financial and development sectors, continually striving to create a workplace where all employees can thrive and contribute to our collective success.

Voices of leadership

Luciana Botafogo, Executive President, FONPLATA Development Bank:“We are thrilled to have achieved the EDGE Assess Certification in 2024, a testament to our ongoing commitment to gender equality and an inclusive workplace. This achievement reflects our collective efforts in promoting equitable opportunities and fair treatment for all our employees. While we celebrate our progress, we recognize the need for continued improvement, particularly in fostering an organizational culture that fully supports gender balance. We are dedicated to addressing these challenges and are confident that with sustained effort, we will achieve even greater milestones in the future.”

Aniela Unguresan, Founder of EDGE Certified Foundation:“Achieving the EDGE Assess Certification is proof of FONPLATA Development Bank’s intentional and prioritized approach to creating a respectful and inclusive workplace. We applaud your leadership and commitment to gender equality, which is essential for fostering sustainable development. FONPLATA Development Bank’s dedication to leading by example is commendable, and we look forward to seeing your continued progress and impact in the years to come.”

About FONPLATA Development Bank

FONPLATA Development Bank is a multilateral financial institution committed to fostering sustainable development and regional integration across Latin America. Established in 1974, FONPLATA plays a pivotal role in financing infrastructure, social development, and environmental sustainability projects that contribute to the economic and social advancement of its member countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. FONPLATA’s approach is based on partnership, flexibility, and innovation. We work closely with our member countries to identify their needs and tailor our financial solutions accordingly. By working closely with national governments, local communities, and international partners, we ensure that our projects align with national priorities and regional goals. Our financing options include loans, guarantees, and technical assistance, which are designed to support a wide range of projects and initiatives. We are committed to transparency, accountability, and the efficient use of resources in all our operations.

For more information about FONPLATA Development Bank and our projects, please visit our website at www.fonplata.org or contact us at .

About EDGE Certification^®

EDGE Certification^® is the leading global standard for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I), centred on a workplace gender and intersectional equity approach. EDGE Certification^® is based on objective and measurable evidence of an organization’s current status of gender and intersectional equity in its workplace. Audited by an approved independent third-party certification body, it supports the integrity and credibility of data and information and gives an organization a powerful way to communicate its DE&I commitment and performance.

The EDGE Standards and the Certification System are built on four pillars that define success in gender and intersectional equity: Representation across the talent pipeline, pay equity, effectiveness of policies and practices, and inclusiveness of the culture. As an integral part of the assessment, statistics, policies and practices, and employee experience are evaluated against the EDGE Standards. Depending on the specific results of each organization, an approved action plan may need to be developed to close identified gaps in the organization.

EDGE Certification^® meets organizations where they are in their DE&I journey. For the EDGE (gender-binary) assessment, three levels of certification are possible, EDGE Assess (recognizing commitment), EDGE Move (showcasing progress), and EDGE Lead (celebrating success). EDGEplus Certification (gender and intersectionality) is an add-on to EDGE (gender-binary) Certification, offering organizations the possibility to analyze data and information related to women and men as diversified groups, to deepen their understanding of, and to measure the intersectionality of gender and other aspects of diversity, such as non-binary gender identity and LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, nationality, age, and working with a disability. EDGE Certification^® is distinguished by its rigour and focus on impact, it remains valid for a period of two years. For more information and the complete list of EDGE Certified Organizations, visit https://www.edge-cert.org/certified-organizations/

AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM), a leading global asset manager and committed to responsible investing, announces the recertification at its EDGE Move level, recognizing its diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments in the workplace. In addition, this year, AXA IM has been awarded EDGEplus for introducing an intersectional approach to its evaluations by expanding its diversity analysis to include non-binary gender identities, age, and nationality.

Having first earned the EDGE Move Certification in 2022, AXA IM continues to demonstrate significant progress toward fostering a gender-equitable environment. This certification, the second of three levels, underscores AXA IM’s ongoing efforts and achievements in integrating ESG principles as both an employer and an investor.

EDGE is the leading global assessment and business certification for gender and intersectional equity. The rigorous certification process includes a thorough third-party review of gender representation, pay equity, the effectiveness of policies and practices, and the inclusiveness of the organization’s culture.

Key highlights

1. Proportionate Retention of Talent: AXA IM has successfully retained talent proportionately in France, Germany, the UK, and the US, meeting EDGE standards in this crucial area of balanced gender representation.
   
2. Equal Pay for Equivalent Work: AXA IM ensures equal pay for equivalent work in all assessed countries, supported by effective recruitment and promotion policies.
   
3. Gender Composition of the Non-Executive Board and P&L Roles: AXA IM meets EDGE standards for the gender composition of its non-executive board and P&L roles in all assessed countries, demonstrating its commitment to inclusive leadership and balanced gender representation in key decision-making roles.
   
4. Flexible Working Policies: AXA IM’s flexible working policies have been recognized across all assessed countries, contributing significantly to a positive organizational culture whilst accommodating diverse employees needs.
   
5. Positive Organizational Culture and Employee Perceptions: AXA IM has been acknowledged for maintaining a positive organizational culture that meets EDGE standards. Employees have positively rated the hiring process and indicated they would recommend AXA IM to both men and women.

Intersectional Diversity Integration

In the recent assessment, AXA IM has broadened its diversity analysis by incorporating three additional indicators: non-binary gender identities, age, and nationality into its employee survey. This intersectional approach enriches the understanding of diverse experiences within the organization, paving the way for more inclusive and comprehensive DE&I strategies.

Continued Commitment

AXA IM will continue to collaborate with EDGE to measure its progress and identify areas for improvement, ensuring sustained advancement in equity, diversity, and inclusion within the organization.

Voices of leadership

Frédéric Clément, Global Head of Human Resources at AXA IM, said: “Achieving the EDGE Move Certification again in 2024 and receiving the EDGEplus Certification for intersectionality mark a significant achievement for us and acknowledge our continued work to cultivate a more gender-equitable workplace and to promote our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

This recertification underscores our dedication to creating a workplace where all employees can thrive.  Although our progress is strong, we remain committed to continuous improvement, and we will work closely with EDGE to identify actions to further enhance both equitable career progression and our inclusive culture at AXA IM.”

Marco Morelli, Executive Chairman of AXA Investment Managers, also commented: “We always aim to act on our convictions, so I am very proud of this achievement.  Gender equality is a key area of focus for AXA IM and this recertification sends a strong message to our industry peers, prospective talent, and our employees that we are firmly committed to our ESG values. It also showcases our concrete actions towards fostering a more inclusive and diverse workplace.”

Aniela Unguresan, Founder of EDGE Certified Foundation, added: “AXA IM’s recertification for EDGE Move and EDGEplus is proof of its intentional and prioritized approach to creating a respectful and inclusive workplace for all. We applaud AXA IM’s unwavering commitment to DE&I as a pillar of sustainable business success. We recognize the strength of its current results and the improvements over the last two years in gender and intersectional equity. As a leading ESG investor, AXA IM consistently demonstrates how ESG principles are woven into its practices as both a responsible employer and investor, setting a benchmark for others in the industry.”

About AXA Investment Managers

AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is a leading global asset manager offering a diverse range of global investment opportunities in both alternative and traditional asset classes. Through our products we aim to diversify and grow portfolios while delivering long-term investment performance and value for clients.

AXA IM manages approximately €859 billion in assets*, and has €480 billion of ESG-integrated, sustainable or impact assets**. Our purpose is to act for human progress by investing for what matters. As a responsible asset manager, we are committed to integrating ESG principles across our business, from stock selection to our corporate actions and culture.

Part of the AXA Group, a worldwide leader in insurance and asset management, AXA IM employs over 2,800 employees and operates from 23 offices in 18 countries globally**.

*As at the end of March 2024, including non-consolidated entities.

** As at the end of December 2023.

ENGIE Romania, supplier of natural gas, electricity, technical services and green electricity producer, has advanced to the EDGE Move Certification in 2024. This shows its commitment to gender equality and a diverse, inclusive workplace.

A key part of this recognition is the company’s use of EDGE Empower®, the tech solution that helps organizations prepare for EDGE Certification®.

EDGE Move is the second of three certification levels. It shows how an organization is improving its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) efforts.

Showcasing progress

• ENGIE Romania used EDGE Empower® to demonstrate that both men and women occupy at least 30% of management positions. This includes junior, middle, and upper management levels. It also helped demonstrate the company’s actively managing pay equity without high-level risks related to gender pay.
• The company has now strengthened its institutional framework of DE&I Policies and Practices ensuring fair career flows. This includes fair pay, a fair hiring process, and fair promotion practices. It also includes equal access to leadership training and mentoring, flexible work options, and an inclusive workplace culture.
• The company has identified areas for improving employee experiences, including access to career-critical assignments, balancing career and family responsibilities, and inclusion in decision-making. By developing efforts in these areas, ENGIE commits to driving further progress and enhancing overall employee satisfaction.

ENGIE Romania is also addressing the gender imbalance at the operational and top management levels and enhancing women’s representation in core and P&L functions at higher management levels.

Voices of leadership

“Advancing to the EDGE Move Certification is proof of ENGIE Romania’s intentional and prioritized approach to creating a respectful and inclusive workplace. The EDGE Team applauds the company’s unwavering commitment to gender equality, which is essential for fostering sustainable business growth. We look forward to seeing its continued progress and impact in the years to come.” – Aniela Unguresan, Founder of EDGE Certified Foundation

“We are thrilled to have advanced to the EDGE Move Certification in 2024, a testimony to our ongoing commitment to gender equality and an inclusive workplace. This achievement reflects our collective efforts in promoting equitable opportunities and fair treatment for all our employees. We are confident that with sustained effort, we will achieve even greater milestones in the future.” – Nicolas Richard, CEO of ENGIE Romania

About ENGIE Romania

The ENGIE Romania group of companies operates in the following fields of activity: natural gas distribution and supply, renewable energy production and electricity supply, as well as green solutions and technical services for natural gas installations and heating plants. ENGIE Romania and its subsidiaries serve a portfolio of over 2.2 million customers, operate a distribution network of 23,255 km, have a production capacity from green energy sources of 202 MW, and have over 4,300 employees. The ENGIE Romania group has invested 6,760 million lei from 2005 to December 31, 2023.

About EDGE Certification^®

EDGE Certification^® is the leading global standard for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I), centred on a workplace gender and intersectional equity approach. EDGE Certification^® is based on objective and measurable evidence of an organization’s current status of gender and intersectional equity in its workplace. Audited by an approved independent third-party certification body, it supports the integrity and credibility of data and information and gives an organization a powerful way to communicate its DE&I commitment and performance.

The EDGE Standards and the Certification System are built on four pillars that define success in gender and intersectional equity: Representation across the talent pipeline, pay equity, effectiveness of policies and practices, and inclusiveness of the culture. As an integral part of the assessment, statistics, policies and practices, and employee experience are evaluated against the EDGE Standards. Depending on the specific results of each organization, an approved action plan may need to be developed to close identified gaps in the organization.

EDGE Certification^® meets organizations where they are in their DE&I journey. For the EDGE (gender-binary) assessment, three levels of certification are possible, EDGE Assess (recognizing commitment), EDGE Move (showcasing progress), and EDGE Lead (celebrating success). EDGEplus Certification (gender and intersectionality) is an add-on to EDGE (gender-binary) Certification, offering organizations the possibility to analyze data and information related to women and men as diversified groups, to deepen their understanding of, and to measure the intersectionality of gender and other aspects of diversity, such as non-binary gender identity and LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, nationality, age, and working with a disability. EDGE Certification^® is distinguished by its rigour and focus on impact, it remains valid for a period of two years. For more information and the complete list of EDGE Certified Organizations, visit here.

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