Following some design controversies in the past few years, Gucci has officially appointed Renée Tirado as the new leader of the diversity, equity, and inclusion division.
For her first task, Tirado will create, develop, and implement a global strategy to not only help make Gucci’s workplace more inclusive (by helming the hiring process to develop a diverse DE&I team), but the brand’s business initiatives as well. Plus, Tirado will be in charge of Gucci’s Cultural Awareness Learning Program, Global Multicultural Design Fellowship Program, the Internal Global Exchange Program, and more.
“I am in the business of making human connections that start with the foundations of inclusivity, respect, and diversity to ensure Gucci remains culturally relevant and economically competitive,” Tirado explained in a statement. “I am honored to join a company that puts these non-negotiable values at the forefront of their business model, not as ‘a nice to have’ but as a key component of its business strategy.”
Tirado’s appointment is just one of the many ways Gucci is improving its brand. In March, Gucci announced the launch of its Global Changemakers Program, a long-term plan to encourage cultural diversity and unity with three different sectors dedicated to “support industry change and to foster unity through community action.”
“Diversity is on the agenda of many companies,” Tirado continued, “but Gucci has now assumed a leadership role in the industry through the breadth of initiatives it is undertaking and the prioritization it has placed on it as a part of the overall business.”
Before joining Gucci, Tirado served as the Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Major League Baseball (MLB) where she developed and led the D&I strategy for the entire league and its thirty Club markets.