Christopher Bailey tops OUTstanding list of LGBT business leaders as Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan bosses make straight allies cut
Two of the world’s best known names in banking have shattered any perceptions of stuffy conservatism by featuring in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) professional network OUTstanding’s top 10 straight allies’ list. Goldman Sachs boss Lloyd Blankfein came in second with JP Morgan’s Jamie Dimon not far behind in sixth, recognising the contribution the pair have made to equality in their firms.
OUTstanding publishes two lists today, straight allies and LGBT business leaders.
Burberry boss Christopher Bailey was at the top of the LGBT business leaders list, celebrated as the first openly gay chief executive of a FTSE 100 company. HSBC UK’s Antonio Simoes was second and EY’s Beth Brooke-Marciniak third.
“We work hard to ensure that an individual’s talent and potential are the only criteria we look at when considering who should be working with us,” said Bailey.
Joining Blankfein and Dimon on the straight allies’ list were Barclaycard CEO Valerie Soranno Keating and Sir Richard Branson. Thomas Cook’s Harriet Green was in the OUTstanding advisory panel.
Dimon told CityAM “At JP Morgan we want to hire the best people and we want them to thrive here, bringing a range of approaches and perspectives and their whole selves to work. It’s simple – we gain strength from a diverse workforce.”