Debbie Ellison Named in Top 100 Empower Ethnic Minority Role Model List 2023
Debbie Ellison, global chief digital officer of VMLY&R Commerce, WPP’s end-to-end creative commerce agency, is named one of the highest achieving executives in the 2023 Empower Role Model List, designed to celebrate leaders who are championing inclusion for people of colour within global businesses. This is the fourth consecutive year Debbie has been recognised as a champion of industry change.
The full lists, compiled by INvolve and supported by YouTube, celebrate 100 Ethnic Minority Executives, 100 Ethnic Minority Future Leaders, and 50 Advocate Role Models from across all industries for their commitment to DE&I in the workplace and to driving strategic change within their organisations.
“Being featured in the Empower Role Model list for the fourth year running – recognising efforts to accelerate the pace of change in inclusion – is a huge honour,” comments Debbie on this year’s recognition. “It is also extremely comforting to know our children will thrive in more equitable businesses, which have been created by such a committed group of leaders before them.”
Debbie joins a formidable line-up in the Top 100 Executives List, which includes Sir Ivan Menezes, Diageo CEO; John Chen, Blackberry executive chairman and CEO; Richard Iferenta, KMPG vice-chair and partner; Funmi Adegoke, Halma PLC group general counsel and sustainability officer.
Three executives from WPP were also recognised in the 2023 Empower Role Model Lists – CEO Mark Read and chief people officer Jennifer Remling in Advocate Executive Role Models, and SVP global communications Niken Wresniwiro in Ethnic Minority Executive Role Models.
The annual list celebrates inspirational leaders paving the way when it comes to increasing representation and driving inclusion for others within the workplace across global business.
Since 2022, the Empower Role Model Lists are fully international, accepting nominations of business leaders working in any country.
View the full list here.
