The Thirty Percent Coalition Begins National Search for Executive Director
Coalition Continues to Collaborate with Member Companies, Institutional Investors and Advocacy Groups to Call on Companies to Increase Board and Executive Diversity
Chicago, IL – July 7, 2022 –The Thirty Percent Coalition (the “Coalition”) is conducting a national search for a new executive director to replace retiring Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane. During the search, the Coalition will continue to pursue its mission to formally call on companies to increase diversity, inclusive of gender, race, and ethnicity on its boards of directors, and to promote women and people of color to senior leadership ranks.
“We are grateful to Charlotte for her longstanding service to the organization she cofounded an
d led for 11 years,” said the Thirty Percent Coalition Board of Directors Chair Julie Kanak. “We look forward to the next chapter and the growth of our organization.”
To date, the Thirty Percent Coalition achievements include:
- Members representing over $8 trillion in assets under management in 2022
- Registering more than 600 companies that have appointed a woman to their board, following the Coalition investors’ engagement
- A multiyear “Adopt a Company” campaign that helped influence more than 500 public companies to appoint a woman to their boards, many for the first time
The Coalition is recognized as a unique organization that can claim identifiable results, known both nationally and internationally. Its broad base of membership encompasses institutional investors, private equity, professional services, public companies and advocacy groups all working in unison to achieve the Coalition’s mission of increasing board diversity. Its leaders and board of directors are often called upon for guidance on legislation and strategies to move the diversity mission forward. In addition, many of its private equity members have made considerable progress to increase gender diversity on their portfolio company boards and establish progressive workplace initiatives.
In her letter announcing her retirement from professional activities, Laurent-Ottomane wrote, “My hope is that the Coalition . . . will continue to thrive. We have all the elements for continued success. At this pivotal time, I am confident that the Coalition’s current board of directors will be inspired to successfully move the organization forward.”
About the Thirty Percent Coalition Board of Directors Officers
Board Chair Julie Kanak is a managing director with Diversified Search Group in the firm’s Chicago office, where she contributes global expertise in leadership, DEI and sustainability. Julie is active in the Financial Services, Industrial, Life Sciences and Consumer Practices as well as being a key member of the Diversified Search Group’s Board, CEO and CFO Practices.
Vice Chair Susan Clark is currently on sabbatical. She previously was Managing Director at Sun Capital. Prior to Sun, Susan was General Partner of Portfolio Operations at TCV, a technology growth investment firm, where she was responsible for driving value creation across the portfolio. Susan also served as Chief of Staff / Vice President of Operations at Vista Equity Partners.
Secretary Patti Gazda is the corporate governance officer for the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System where she oversees the corporate governance program for the 12th largest public pension system in the U.S. She actively engages with issuers, industry organizations and state and federal stakeholders to raise awareness and advocate for corporate governance best practices, rules and policies that lead to increased financial performance, including board diversity.
Treasurer Dawn Jones is the chief diversity and inclusion officer and vice president of social impact at Intel. She leads a team focused on collaborating with external partners to provide opportunities that positively impact retention and progression for women and under-represented minorities. Dawn also engages federal stakeholders to impact DE&I legislative issues.
About the Thirty Percent Coalition
Founded in 2011, the Thirty Percent Coalition—also known as the “Coalition for U.S. board diversity®”—is a pioneer in promoting diversity in the corporate boardroom. Its mission is to advocate for diversity on corporate boards and in senior leadership, promoting women and people of color. The Coalition provides a national forum where its members develop strategies to influence companies to increase diversity in senior leadership and boardrooms. Membership includes public companies, private equity, institutional investors, state treasurers, professional services firms, and advocacy groups working together for the first time. In 2022, Coalition members represent over $8 trillion in assets under management. There is no other organization of this kind in the U.S. For more information, visit https://www.30percentcoalition.org/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/thirty-percent-coalition/.
Company & Media Contact:
Julie Kanak, Chair of the Thirty Percent Coalition Board of Directors
m. 847-219-0100
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
