Final hours! Save up to 55% OFF InvestingProCLAIM SALE

Amazon hires Twitter executive to tackle diversity challenges

Published 09/14/2021, 03:18 PM
Updated 09/14/2021, 03:25 PM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Small toy shopping cart is seen in front of displayed Amazon logo in this illustration, taken July 30, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
AMZN
-
TWTR
-
SPOT
-

By Jeffrey Dastin

(Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) has hired a Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) executive, Candi Castleberry Singleton, as vice president of global diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), according to a staff memo on Tuesday that it shared with Reuters.

The company had upgraded the role from a director-level position. Castleberry Singleton's job will be to help Amazon meet diversity goals it laid out in April, among them, doubling the number of Black leaders at the company from a year ago and increasing women in senior tech roles by 30%.

The world's largest online retailer recently came under scrutiny for alleged discrimination. It has faced at least six https://www.reuters.com/technology/amazoncom-faces-five-new-racial-gender-bias-lawsuits-2021-05-19 lawsuits this year claiming racial bias, gender bias or both suffered by women who worked in corporate or warehouse management roles. One plaintiff, for instance, said Amazon hired individuals who are Black into lower positions https://www.reuters.com/article/amazon-com-lawsuit-racism-int/lawsuit-accuses-amazon-of-systemic-racism-in-corporate-offices-idUSKCN2AT3RM and promoted them more slowly than white workers.

Amazon earlier said it had not found evidence in support of the allegations and that it had no tolerance for harassment or discrimination.

In Tuesday's memo, Senior Vice President Beth Galetti said Castleberry Singleton starts next month. She "will join my leadership team and be the driver of our bi-weekly DEI updates with the S-team," referring to the company's most senior executives.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Small toy shopping cart is seen in front of displayed Amazon logo in this illustration, taken July 30, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Castleberry Singleton, who identifies as Black, was a vice president at Twitter after a decades-long career in business and academia, according to Amazon. She said in the company memo, "If we get this right, together we can create a greater sense of inclusion not only within Amazon, but for Amazon customers around the world."

Amazon's prior DEI head had departed for Spotify Technology SA (NYSE:SPOT) earlier this year. Twitter did not immediately return a request for comment.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.