Northern Trust's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Originally published in Northern Trust's 2021 Sustainability Report
We are committed to advancing an inclusive culture in which all individuals are valued, respected, supported and can fully participate and contribute to our success. Our focus on DE&I is rooted in our core values of service, expertise and integrity—allowing us to provide unrivaled service to clients—and create a dynamic culture composed of employees from diverse backgrounds with unique leadership styles and skillsets.
Our vision for DE&I is embedded at all levels of the organization—starting at the top, with women and ethnic minorities representing 58 percent of our board of directors, as well as 51 percent of our U.S. senior vice president and above population. In addition, 46 percent of the employee population in our APAC Client Centers are women. At the senior vice president level, women represent 36 percent of the workforce. In EMEA, females represent 46 percent of our entire population, with 35 percent females at executive vice president and senior vice president levels combined.
Reflecting the importance of DE&I, our head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion and Social Impact serves as an executive vice president and reports directly to our chairman, president and chief executive officer. Two chief DE&I officers are responsible for the design and execution of topicrelevant programs across the Americas, Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and APAC. Our board of directors, through its Corporate Governance Committee, also engages in active oversight of our DE&I strategies, programs and principles.
We know that it is imperative to continually commit to fostering an inclusive environment in which there are equitable opportunities to contribute to the success of our organization, our communities and each other. Our commitment is practiced within our organization, amplified by leaders and reflected in the composition of our clients. In 2021, we reaffirmed that commitment, accelerated our efforts to recruit and retain talent from diverse backgrounds, and scaled our programs for even greater impact.
DE&I Strategy
As we continue to strategically develop a diverse pipeline of future leaders, we provide an array of resources and unique programs that engage our talent and strengthen our culture of inclusion.
We have a DE&I strategy that is designed to develop a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce that reflects our values and allows us to grow as a business. Our strategy focuses on three key areas: driving accountability, enhancing development programs and placement, and advancing culture. These priorities inform our hiring, development, advancement and retention of women and people of color at every level.
