RAPP UK Promotes Allison Gilbert to Associate Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, US/UK

RAPP UK has bolstered its DEI capabilities by promoting Allison Gilbert to the role of associate director of diversity, equity & inclusion, working into its chief inclusion officer, Carolyn Stebbings and Devin O’Loughlin, its global chief DEI & comms officer.

Previously communications & DEI lead at RAPP UK, Allison will develop and implement RAPP’s DEI strategy and practices, bringing them to life through the agency’s client campaigns and agency proposition of ‘Standing up for Individuality’. Dividing her time between the US market - her native home - and the UK market - where she now lives - she will play a critical role in moving two of RAPP’s biggest markets in the same direction through global and local initiatives. 

Throughout her career at RAPP, Allison Gilbert has played a central role in the creation and implementation of DEI training and partnerships, including being part of the team who realised RAPP’s READY Initiative, a ground-breaking apprenticeship programme for young homeless people to join the creative industry. Her further contributions include building a robust programme of education and consciousness-raising and the formation and evolution of RAPP’s DEI team and employee resource groups. 

Commenting on the appointment, RAPP UK’s chief operating and inclusion officer, Carolyn Stebbings said, “I’m delighted that Allison has been given the charge to move her contributions at RAPP to the next level, bridging our two important markets in the UK and US. There is always more to do when it comes to promoting DE&I both with our client work and within the agency’s culture, and with Allison’s awareness, sensitivity and undiluted passion, I’m confident RAPP will continue to set the precedent”.

Newly appointed associate director of diversity, equity & inclusion, US/UK, Allison Gilbert commented, ““I’m excited to start creating more tangible, impactful changes to help RAPP play its part in building an intersectional environmentalist world we all deserve. For me, I’m most looking forward to standing up for our individuals and their communities, enabling them to find their own voice and meaning, while creating and holding space for everyone else to do the same.

Allison’s background in cultural studies and community organising make her ideally positioned for this unique associate director role. Prior to joining the agency, Allison was a community organiser for reproductive rights organisation NARAL Pro-Choice New Hampshire. She is also the co-founder and former co-chair of the Democrats Abroad UK Women’s Caucus, where she started a grassroots movement for American women living abroad.