I’m thrilled to announce that we, as a company, have appointed Beverley Yeomans as its inaugural Chief Diversity Officer (CDO).

Beverley, who is also our Chief Operating Officer (COO), takes up the additional role with immediate effect.

This news comes as we double down on our commitment to making our globe-spanning organisation even more inclusive, diverse and equitable. To ensure that this critical commitment is successful, we needed someone who knows our culture inside out to lead the charge.

Beverley has been at the top of her game in a senior executive role and on the Board, for some 22 years in a highly male-dominated sector.  Due to traditional industry biases, it’s a depressing reality that very few women have ever achieved this level, so young, and for this long in international financial services.

But Beverley tore-up that ‘rule book’, breaking down barriers and leading by example. She was the ideal person to become our first-ever Chief Diversity Officer.

For her part, she told the media: “I’m thrilled to be taking on this extra role and help our group further incorporate diversity and inclusion in the way we operate day-to-day, as well as attracting and retaining the very best diverse talent.

“I’m excited to get going on building on the strong foundations we have already created at deVere, helping to galvanise the culture of inclusion.”

deVere has the most diverse and inclusive staff in the international financial services sector.  This is in no small part due to the tireless work and expertise of Beverley.

“But there’s much, much more to do,” she said. “We will continue to lead the drive. Why? Because it is the right, fair thing to do and it makes for a better and stronger organisation.

“I look forward to launching bold, innovative ideas and being a catalyst for promoting an even more inclusive work environment where all our people belong and thrive.”

Make no mistake: we’re not giving a casual nod to diversity. We’re making real, impactful moves.