2024 European Diversity Awards Winners Revealed

This year’s European Diversity Awards winners were announced at a star-studded ceremony in London on Friday November 8, 2024. The awards celebrate diversity and inclusion champions and honor achievements across all aspects of diversity: age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, social mobility, and sexual orientation.

Global organizations, corporate leaders, financial institutions, and a UK charity were among those recognized at the 2024 European Diversity Awards. Sponsored by Optum, the event was hosted by Sky News presenters Kamali Melbourne and Gillian Joseph and took place at the five-star InterContinental London Park Lane.

Several of myGwork's corporate clients, including Sanofi, Kellanova, HSBC, Bank of America, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, took home awards or were "highly commended" for various categories on Friday evening. Notably, Bank of America’s LGBTQ+ Pride network was awarded the myGwork Outstanding LGBTQIA Network of the Year honor.

Teleperformance Portugal was named the Sedulo Diversity Team of the Year. Meanwhile, it was a big night for tech companies, highlighted by a performance from legendary disco group Boney M.

Global IT innovation specialist Avanade had an impressive showing, with Barry Pettitt winning the Hero of the Year award, while NatWest Group’s Blessing Mutamba triumphed in a competitive category to win the Allianz Commercial Inspirational Role Model of the Year award.

Leading companies including Colgate-Palmolive, Kearney, and TJX Europe vied for the highly sought-after DHL Group Company of the Year title, which was ultimately awarded to Kellanova.

Ardonagh Advisory’s DisAbility Colleague Community received the Financial Times-partnered Outstanding Disability Network of the Year award, and Catalina Hernandez of Munich Re earned the Haleon-backed Head of Diversity of the Year accolade.

Avanade Italy took home the IHG Hotels and Resorts Marketing Campaign of the Year award for their Women in STEM campaign, which highlighted the accomplishments of female leaders in IT to inspire the next generation of women in STEM.

The EDAs also celebrated community projects and charities. PTC Therapeutics’ Community Team won the lululemon-sponsored Community Project of the Year, while disability charity Evenbreak was honored with the prestigious Optum Charity or Not-For-Profit of the Year award for their work in removing barriers to employment for the disabled community. They also received a generous £5,000 donation from Optum.

The most eagerly anticipated award of the evening, Outstanding Commitment to Diversity, went to singing icon Beverley Knight MBE, in recognition of her advocacy for equality and social justice.

Commenting on the awards, Linda Riley, founder of the European Diversity Awards, said: "These awards are all about recognizing those who have gone above and beyond to champion diversity and inclusion, inspiring others to get involved as well. The organizations and leaders we’re celebrating tonight demonstrate the significant efforts being made to create inclusive workplaces that truly embody these values. Together, we’re making a real difference."

Adding to her remarks, the headline sponsor optum stated: "We are deeply honored to be part of the European Diversity Awards. Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is central to our mission of helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone. Congratulations, on behalf of UnitedHealth Group, to all our winners!"

FULL LIST OF WINNERS:

lululemon Community Project of the Year

Winner: PTC Therapeutics Community Team, PTC Therapeutics
Highly Commended: Pass it on, &Co & European Parliament

IHG Hotels & Resorts Marketing Campaign of the Year

Winner: Women in STEM, Avanade Italy

Highly Commended: Pass It On, &Co & European Parliament

​Sanofi HR Diversity Champion of the Year

Winner: Zsofia Komaromi, Publicis Groupe Hungary / Publicis Groupe CEE

Highly Commended: Ben Higgins, Societe Generale

EmployAbility Social Mobility Initiative of the Year

Winner: Social Mobility Strategies, TJX Europe

Highly Commended: www.CareLeaverMentoring.co.uk, Goal 17 Ltd

Optum Charity or Not-For-Profit of the Year

Winner: Evenbreak

​Sedulo Diversity Team of the Year

Winner: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Team, Teleperformance Portugal

Highly Commended: EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) Directorate, The University of Manchester

HSBC Europe Outstanding Employee Network of the Year

Winner: Cancer & Work Affinity Group, Sanofi

Highly Commended: Family Matters Network, UBS UK

​myGwork Outstanding LGBTQIA Network of the Year

Winner: LGBTQ+ Pride, Bank of America

Highly Commended: Global Pride+ ERG, Sanofi

Financial Times Outstanding Ability Network of the Year

Winner: DisAbility Colleague Community, Ardonagh Advisory

Highly Commended: disABILITY ERG, HSBC Innovation Banking

Toyota Motor Europe Outstanding Ethnicity Network of the Year

Winner: embRace, E.ON

Highly Commended: Fusion, Macquarie

Ruebik Outstanding Women's Network of the Year

Winner: Women's Network, EDF UK

Highly Commended: Business Women's Network, SAP

Hero of the Year

Winner: Barry Pettitt, Avanade

Highly Commended: Rebekah Riddell, Canada Life Asset Management

​Allianz Commercial Inspirational Role Model of the Year

Winner: Blessing Mutamba, NatWest Group

Highly Commended: Morgan Bondiek, Johnson Matthey plc

HSBC Innovation Banking Women in Technology

Winner: Emily Hall-Strutt, Next Tech Girls

Highly Commended: Plamena Cherneva, Nordic Women in Tech Awards

​Haleon Head of Diversity of the Year

Winner: Catalina Hernandez, Munich Re

Highly Commended: Simone Coultress, Johnson Matthey plc

Diversity in Technology

Winner: WeWALK Smart Cane 2, WeWalk Limited

Highly Commended: ARC / HOK / UWS

Abercombie & Fitch Diversity Champion of the Year

Winner: Piers Linney, Sky UK Ltd

Highly Commended: Colin Kimber, Pareto Facilities Management Ltd

DHL Group Company of the Year

Winner: Kellanova

Highly Commended: Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Ltd

Outstanding Commitment to Diversity

Winner: Beverley Knight MBE