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(Alliance News) - Drug maker GlaxoSmithKline PLC on Wednesday announced new gender and diversity targets for increasing representation at senior levels.
The company has set aspirational targets to increase ethnic diversity among US and UK senior leadership and further extended is gender diversity aspirational target in order to "drive further progress".
The company said it has already beaten a previous target for 37% vice president-level and above roles being filled by women. It will now extend this to at least 45% by 2025.
Moreover, it has introduced targets for racial and ethnic diversity in senior roles in its two largest employee populations, being the US and UK, which reflect those countries' demographics.
In the US, it is aiming for at least 30% ethnically diverse leaders by 2025-end, from the current level of 23%, while in the UK the target is at least 18% ethnically diverse leaders by the end of 2025, from 11% at present.
Glaxo noted that: "While the expectation is progress across all groups during that time, there will be a specific focus in the US to increase the percentage of Black or African American, and Hispanic or Latinx senior leaders and to increase the percentage of Black senior leaders in the UK year-on-year."
The targets, Glaxo said, are part of a broader commitment to diversity and inclusion and aim of increasing these across all different groups of people in the company's workforce.
Chief Executive Emma Walmsley said: "We have already made some good progress on our inclusion and diversity agenda, but there is still much more we can do. These new ambitions are the next step for us as we build a diverse workforce that represents the society we operate in and ultimately helps us provide more effective solutions for patients and consumers."
Shares in Glaxo closed 0.3% higher at 1,276.40 pence in London on Wednesday.
By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com
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