FTI Consulting Survey Finds That Investors Believe Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Should be a Top Priority for CEOs
Data Demonstrates that Investors viewed CEOs who Make Efforts to Improve DE&I More Favorably
Washington, D.C., March 9, 2022 — FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today released findings from the second installment of its survey, CEO Leadership Redefined. The survey found that stakeholders expect CEOs to address, promote and take action on diversity, equity and inclusion, and believe it should be at the top of corporate agendas.
FTI Consulting’s Strategic Communications segment conducted surveys among a nationally representative sample of U.S. working professionals and institutional investors. The research was designed to understand the expectations these critical stakeholders have of CEOs amid a period of political and social transition during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Employees and investors overwhelmingly agree that business leaders must address the most pressing issues facing our society, and they are not afraid to hold them accountable when they see leaders fall short,” said Christine DiBartolo, a Senior Managing Director and Americas Head of the Corporate Reputation practice within the Strategic Communications segment at FTI Consulting. “With the demand for equity, transparency and corporate purpose on the rise, diversity, equity and inclusion must be more than just a corporate initiative; it must be a business imperative.”
While CEOs of the past may have prioritized financial performance above all else, the agenda for today’s CEOs must also include addressing social issues head on, as identified in FTI Consulting’s first installment of the CEO Leadership Redefined series. Stakeholders now look for organizations they work for, invest in and buy from to be positive catalysts for change.
Other key findings from the survey include:
- The majority of investors (84%) and three-quarters of professionals (75%) believe it is important for CEOs to prioritize sharing diversity statistics of a company’s workforce.
- When using a broader set of metrics to evaluate companies, diversity, equity and inclusion has gained greater importance throughout the last 18 to 24 months, with investors saying they have become more concerned with “increasing diversity, equity and an inclusive environment” —second only to “recovering from the pandemic.”
- Investors (62%) and professionals (55%) said CEOs’ efforts to improve diversity, equity and inclusion within their organization improved their favorable view of executives.
- Investors (90%) and professionals (83%) overwhelmingly agree it is important for CEOs to prioritize recruiting diverse talent.
- Investors (84%) and professionals (78%) believe it is important for CEOs to prioritize setting diversity standards for the supply chain and partners to promote diversified workforces and equality.
“Stakeholders are very understandably focused on diverse hiring, and this has been a growing concern for decades. The good news is that most organizations know how to hire diverse talent. But many still struggle to create equitable and inclusive environments which retain, develop and promote under-represented individuals. If under-represented talent is leaving just as fast as they are being recruited, stakeholders will not see meaningful progress in diverse representation and the true value the organization can create from diversity will remain untapped,” said Darius Johnson, Managing Director at FTI Consulting.
Future installments of FTI Consulting’s CEO Leadership Redefined series will explore the role of the CEO in sustainability and corporate purpose, political advocacy and more. More information can be found at https://fticommunications.com/en/topic/trending-topics/ceo-leadership-redefined/
About this survey
FTI Consulting’s Strategic Communications segment conducted a survey across the United States among 1,012 employed professionals of companies greater than 250 employees, as well as 253 institutional investors. The survey was conducted online between September 10-18, 2021.
About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations manage change, mitigate risk and resolve disputes: financial, legal, operational, political & regulatory, reputational and transactional. With more than 6,700 employees located in 29 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges and make the most of opportunities. The Company generated $2.78 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2021. In certain jurisdictions, FTI Consulting’s services are provided through distinct legal entities that are separately capitalized and independently managed. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com and connect with us on Twitter (@FTIConsulting), Facebook and LinkedIn.
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