Coca-Cola Amatil announced it has reached its goal of women holding 30 per cent of board, senior executive and management positions in the company, ahead of its 2020 target. Coca-Cola Amatil group managing director Alison Watkins says gender diversity is “particularly important” in FMCG due to women influencing more than 80 per cent of consumer purchasing.
In business. gender diversity has shifted from “the right thing to do” to the smart thing to do, Watkins says. “An extensive 2016 study by Credit Suisse found companies with more female executives deliver stronger market returns. A diverse leadership also brings a wider range of experience and views, leading to stronger decisions,” she says.
The company’s 2018-19 report to Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) shows 34 per cent of Coca-Cola Amatil’s management are female across national operations. Australia’s national average is 23.5 per cent of women in management in manufacturing.
More to do
Despite the outcome, Watkins said Amatil had more to do to encourage women to take up leadership roles in line management and in sales. “Line management roles are critical in generating the CEOs and senior leaders of the future,” Watkins says.
“Boards generally look for potential leaders with direct experience in running commercial operations, and that includes line management in areas like supply chain and sales.
“Presently only one in four of Amatil’s line managers are female, so there’s work to be done in encouraging more of our extremely talented women to step up.”
The company runs a number of programs to support women leaders – an Acceleration and Empowerment program in Indonesia, Women in Warehousing program with Workskil Australia which focuses on training for the logistics workforce, and The David Gonski Women in Leadership program which extends across all Amatil’s markets and supports the development of its female talent across Amatil.
