BritishAmerican Business Honours António Horta‐Osório, Group Chief Executive, Lloyds Banking Group, and Karen Blackett OBE, UK Country Manager, WPP & Chairwoman, MediaCom UK & Ireland at 16th Annual Corporate Citizenship Awards Dinner
4 May 2019
Contact: Dominic Parker, Communications Manager dparker@babinc.org | 020 7290 9882 | +44 7500 115 352
London – On 5 June 2019, BritishAmerican Business (BAB) will present its Corporate Citizenship Awards for 2019 to António Horta‐Osório, Group Chief Executive, Lloyds Banking Group and Karen Blackett OBE, UK Country Manager, WPP & Chairwoman, MediaCom UK & Ireland, in recognition of their exceptional commitment to corporate citizenship.
BAB is honouring António Horta‐Osório this year for his leadership in Inclusion and Diversity, and for tackling mental health in the workplace. António has championed programmes and policies to promote Inclusion and Diversity at Lloyds Banking Group and to support colleagues reach their full potential, including leadership programmes for women and B.A.M.E colleagues, returners to work programmes for both men and women, agile working practices, and improving the workplace for colleagues with disabilities or long-term health conditions.
Through Lloyds Banking Group’s partnership with Mental Health UK and António’s firm commitment to build personal resilience and positive well-being at work, he has greatly advanced the focus of mental health in the workplace, leading to real and measurable progress.
António has introduced a number of programmes to enable colleagues at Lloyds Banking Group better understand their mental health, build resilience and promote well-being, including a ground-breaking programme, designed to help leaders recognise potentially stressful habits, and give themselves the authority and power to change.
António’s leadership has helped drive the debate and the need for business to take action to build a supportive workplace culture, so that colleagues can bring their whole selves to work, and succeed and thrive in the workplace.
Karen Blackett OBE is being honoured for her work in promoting greater inclusion and diversity in the workplace. This includes initiatives implemented at MediaCom; the Apprenticeship Scheme she established in 2012 and the creation of the Inclusion@MediaCom campaign, as well as setting up the WPP Inclusion Board, the WPP Returners programme and mentorship schemes. Her leadership as the newly appointed UK Government race equality business champion is having commendable impact, encouraging organisations to sign up support for the Race At Work Charter and setting high standards across the wider business community.
Duncan Edwards, CEO, BritishAmerican Business said:
“BritishAmerican Business is proud to recognise António Horta‐Osório and Karen Blackett OBE for their outstanding contributions to corporate citizenship.
“Our Honourees are inspirational leaders who have put deeply personal values into action to create a healthier, happier and more inclusive workplace. The issues tackled by their respective efforts are not only transforming business, and the lives of those within their companies, but are hugely important steps towards achieving societal change.
“On behalf of BAB and our members on both sides of the Atlantic, we are proud and privileged to champion and honour their valuable contributions towards a diverse, inclusive and supportive workplace.”
António Horta‐Osório, Group Chief Executive, Lloyds Banking Group said:
“The Group and I are immensely proud of the work we are doing to ensure that the Group is an inclusive place to work, with every colleague treated fairly and with respect, and where people can succeed and thrive. We still have a great deal to do, but so far our efforts have led to real, measurable progress. I am honoured to receive the BritishAmerican Business Corporate Citizenship Award on behalf of all our colleagues.”
Karen Blackett OBE, UK Country Manager, WPP & Chairwoman, MediaCom UK & Ireland said:
“I’m extremely honoured to be recognised by BritishAmerican Business. Creating more inclusive workplaces is not only the right thing to do, it’s a business imperative; we know that having diversity of thought, experience and expertise results in greater creativity, innovation and business growth.”
ENDS
About BritishAmerican Business
BritishAmerican Business (BAB) is an exclusive members’ organization; we create networking opportunities for our members, which often lead to business opportunities, through the events and programming that we run. As a policy and advocacy organization we are the voice of transatlantic business; we support policies and action that will protect and enhance the environment for trade and investment between the US and UK.
For more information, please visit www.babinc.org
Notes for Editors:
BAB’s Corporate Citizenship Award Dinner is a highlight of London’s transatlantic business calendar, bringing together more than 150 influential business leaders from both sides of the Atlantic as well as other dignitaries including senior representatives from both the UK and US Governments. Past honourees have included Jim Barber, Jayne-Anne Gadhia CBE, Xavier Rolet KBE, Stephen McGill, Arun Sarin, Lord Browne, Peter Voser, Sir Martin Sorrell and Sir Michael Rake.