USA – The American grain merchant, Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) has partnered Paradigm for Parity in commitment to achieve gender parity within its senior leadership structure by 2030.

ADM becomes one of the first 100 companies to join the coalition of business leaders, board members and business academics dedicated to addressing the gender gap in corporate leadership.

The Chicago-based agribusiness giant has joined a coalition that seeks to turn around the norm in management and leadership roles, which previously have been dominated by male executives.

“We recognize that our success as a company and as an industry relies on developing, creating and growing an inclusive culture and diverse workforce,” said Chairman and CEO Juan Luciano.

“We believe that true innovation arises from having many different perspectives and backgrounds represented at the highest levels of an organization, and we have a comprehensive plan in place to promote inclusion in all roles, at all levels at ADM.

“Our commitment through Paradigm for Parity focuses on improved gender balance in our global leadership forum by 2030.

We’re well on our way to meeting this target and are confident that we can achieve not just this goal, but a number of others, to ensure we create and maintain a respectful culture in which all colleagues feel included and empowered.”

According to its website, ADM was led by Patricia Woertz for 8 years as chief executive until 2014 and currently has three female executives on its 22-member senior leadership team.

It has joined Paradigm for Parity, a coalition of business leaders from natural resources and commodities groups including Cargill and mining group Newmont.

What ADM has committed:

*Addressing unconscious bias in the workplace
*Significantly increasing the number of women in senior operating roles, with the near-term goal of at least 30% representation in all leadership groups
*Measuring targets and maintaining accountability by providing regular progress reports
*Basing career progress on business results and performance, rather than physical presence in the office
*Providing sponsors, not just mentors, to women well positioned for long term success

“Our commitment through Paradigm for Parity focuses on improved gender balance in our global leadership forum by 2030.

We’re well on our way to meeting this target and are confident that we can achieve not just this goal, but a number of others, to ensure we create and maintain a respectful culture in which all colleagues feel included and empowered,” added Juan Luciano.W