CHARLESTON, S.C. – Sonepar USA, a subsidiary of the privately held Sonepar Group, recently signed Catalyst’s CEO Champions for Change pledge, marking the latest step in Sonepar USA’s journey to foster an inclusive environment for a diverse workforce. Catalyst, a global nonprofit supported by many of the world’s most powerful leaders, is helping lead companies in building workplaces that “work for women.”
“Continuing to foster an inclusive environment at Sonepar USA is critical. With this pledge, we are committing to increase the representation of women in our organization and develop a culture in which our talented female associates can thrive. I am proud that Sonepar USA is joining Catalyst, among the many other initiatives we are undertaking to increase diversity and foster inclusivity,” said Rob Taylor, President of Sonepar North America.
Sonepar USA is committed to being an industry leader in diversity, equity and inclusion and has made significant progress over the last two years. Among the many actions it has taken, Sonepar USA established the Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Action (IDEA) Council to help shape and support DEI strategy; hired a Director of DEI; implemented DEI training for all managers; enhanced their recruiting capabilities to further support diverse sourcing of talent; supported the creation of many employee resource groups (ERGs); actively promoted women and diverse associates; and created dedicated intranet resource sites where all associates can learn about critical DEI topics and find opportunities to get involved.
“All of our efforts are important, and I am very happy to see our continued progress in the DEI journey,” said Taylor. “It is particularly exciting to watch the growth in our employee resource groups. This grassroots approach further embeds inclusivity into the foundation of our culture, facilitating positive changes across the company.”
“People” is one of the Sonepar Group’s four strategic pillars, and leadership recognizes that the diversity of Sonepar’s global organization has always been a source of strength and innovation. “Our tagline, Powered by Difference, represents an ambition to be the world leader in B-to-B electrical distribution. This means more than just size and ability to provide customers exceptional service; it includes having the most positive impact on the lives of the people we work with and serve,” continued Taylor. “DEI is a critical component of creating a positive environment for the associates and our communities.”