American Water, a water and wastewater utility company based in Camden, announced it has partnered with the Paradigm for Parity coalition to support more diversity and inclusion in its corporate leadership by 2030.
“American Water has long been at the forefront of gender parity in leadership and board representation, and we will continue to accelerate our efforts in support of inclusion and diversity across our workforce,” Susan Story, CEO and president of American Water, said.
Story said women make up 50 percent of the company’s board, 40 percent of its named executive officers and 25 percent of its managers.
“We are proud to partner with the Paradigm for Parity movement because as a company, we understand the value that comes from having diverse leadership at the top of our organization. Our board of directors is currently comprised of 50 percent women, 40 percent of our named executive officers are women, and 25 percent of our managers are women. We are making a commitment that we will continue to elevate and recognize the success of our strongest leaders, regardless of gender or other demographic factors.”
American Water’s existing diversity and inclusion efforts are currently focused on eliminating unconscious bias in the workplace, respecting differences and basing career progress on experience, business results and performance.
Through the partnership, American Water has committed to increasing the number of women in management roles from 25 percent to 30 percent in the near future, it said.
“We welcome American Water to the Paradigm for Parity coalition and applaud the company’s commitment to achieving gender parity in corporate leadership,” Sandra Beach Lin, co-chair of the Paradigm for Parity coalition. “Susan Story and the American Water executive team understand that parity between men and women in the workplace can only be achieved when companies take concrete steps to level the playing field. We are thrilled to have American Water join our coalition of 91 companies that have committed creating diverse and inclusive leadership teams.”
