Out at Work: The top 50 list of LGBT executives

1 Antonio Simões

Chief executive officer, HSBC UK
Simões has increased the visibility of LGBT issues at HSBC, works with its Pride networks and chairs the UK Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Committee. Lord John Browne dubbed him “a poster child for diversity” in his book The Glass Closet.

2 Claudia Brind-Woody

Vice-president and managing director, global intellectual property licensing, IBM
Brind-Woody is one of the most senior out executives at IBM and co-chairs its Global LGBT Executive Taskforce, taking the lead in revolutionising training on LGBT visibility and rights. She serves on LGBT boards and is an active speaker at LGBT events worldwide.

3 Christopher Bailey

Chief creative and chief executive officer, Burberry
Responsible for more than 11,000 employees, Bailey’s role sees him as the first openly gay CEO of a FTSE 100 company. Since joining Burberry as creative director in 2001, revenues have increased fourfold.

4 Anthony Watson

Former global chief information officer, Nike, Inc.
Watson is the first British, and non-American, citizen to be appointed to the Board of Directors of Glaad. He is also a patron of Diversity Role Models, and chair and head judge of the European Diversity Awards.

5 Audrey Connolly

Head, FOS operations, Lloyds Banking Group
Connolly is Lloyds Banking Group’s most senior out gay woman and co-chair of its LGBT Rainbow network. She advises the Group on LGBT-related HR policy improvements and LGBT-specific marketing activities.

6 Andy Woodfield

Partner and head, international aid development consulting, PwC
As a partner at PwC, Woodfield is the most senior out role model. He created the LGBT network Glee@PwC, takes a keen interest in LGBT and Human Rights challenges, and is a trustee for Diversity Role Models and Action Breaks Silence.

7 Claire Harvey

Senior consultant, inclusive leadership, KPMG
Harvey chairs the Government Equalities Office Anti Homophobia & Transphobia in Sport initiative and is a patron for the Diversity Role Models charity. A keen athlete, she was the Sitting Volleyball GB team captain at the 2012 Paralympics.

8 Beth Brooke-Marciniak

Global vice-chair, public policy, EY
Named as one of Forbes’ “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women”, Brooke-Marciniak helped unify EY’s LGBT networks globally, has spoken at LGBT events and was featured in Lord Browne’s book The Glass Closet.

9 Vincent François

Managing director and regional chief audit executive, Société Générale
François leads Société Générale’s LGBT agenda. Founder and chair of the Société Générale LGBT network, he won Diversity Champion of the Year at the 2013 Out in the City & g3 Readers Awards, and was ranked 42nd in The Guardian’s World Pride Power List 2014.

10 Margot Slattery

Managing director, corporate services, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Sodexo
Slattery sits on Sodexo’s global LGBT network leadership team and chairs the UK D&I Sexual Orientation workstream. She is a non-executive director for Out House, an Irish LGBT community and resource centre, and is on the board of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (Glen) and Stonewall.

^{Nike's former global chief information officer Anthony Watson}

11 Harry Small

Partner and head of Global Technology Practice Group, Baker & McKenzie
Small was instrumental in developing Baker & McKenzie’s Global LGBT initiative and helped form the company’s LGBT network. He also sits on the legal panel for the Human Dignity Trust and is involved with Stonewall.

12 Robert Kerse

Executive director, resources, Circle Housing
As well as executive director of resources, Kerse is the executive and strategic lead for D&I and the executive sponsor for the LGBT Network Group, working with LGBT charities, such as the Albert Kennedy Trust.

13 Nicholas Creswell

Vice-president, performance and talent management, Thomson Reuters
As UK lead for Thomson Reuters’ LGBT network, Pride at Work, Creswell has helped to improve product content for LGBT employees. A Stonewall ambassador, he also organises events and works with a variety of LGBT organisations.

14 Stephen Frost

Global head of diversity, KPMG
Frost’s appointment as global head of D&I at KPMG follows previous D&I posts with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Locog) and Stonewall. A Visiting Fellow at Harvard University on the Women and Public Policy programme, he has also written a book, The Inclusion Imperative.

15 Daniel Winterfeldt

Head, international capital markets, CMS Cameron McKenna
Besides his International Capital Markets position, Winterfeldt is the D&I partner at CMS Cameron McKenna. He is also a Stonewall ambassador, founder of InterLaw Diversity Forum, has launched the Apollo Project, and most recently embarked on the Purple Reign initiative highlighting LGBT role models.

16 Gary Millar

Cabinet Member for Business, councillor for Liverpool City Council, and chief executive of Parr Street Studios
Millar was the UK’s first out LGBT Lord Mayor and has raised money at more than 1,500 LGBT events. He is a director of the Social Enterprise Network, trustee of St George’s Hall Charitable Trust and chair of the Michael Causer Foundation.

17 Wg Cdr Mark Abrahams

Wing Commander, Royal Air Force
Abrahams helped establish the RAF’s LGBT Forum, which he has chaired since 2006. He works closely with RAF E&D Staffs and Stonewall, promoting equality in the RAF and helping to shape conditions of service for LGBT personnel.

18 Michael Brunt

Executive vice-president and managing director, global circulation, The Economist
In addition to his role at The Economist, Brunt mentors LGBT staff, and is a regular participant and organiser of diverse networking and LGBT events. He has regularly used LGBT messaging and imagery within The Economist.

19 Denny Tu

Head, strategy and planning, BSkyB
Tu sits on Sky’s creative senior leadership team, serving as a mentor to emerging LGBT talent. He is actively involved in Sky’s LGBT diversity change programme, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Albert Kennedy Trust and Stonewall.

20 Mark MacKenzie MBE

Capability development specialist, Transport for London
MacKenzie is a founding member of TfL’s LGBT network and led the group’s support for Pride in London. He is also a member of various LGBT-rights boards and an Ambassador of Hope for the grassroots DABs the Aids Bear Project.

21 Emma Cusdin

Senior HR business partner, Thomson Reuters
In addition to her role at Thomson Reuters, Cusdin organises events for greater understanding of transgender people. She is a facilitator of the National Trans Youth Conference and founding member of Trans*formation network.

22 Robert Annibale

Global director, microfinance and community development, Citi
Annibale has spearheaded Citi’s position against the US Defense of Marriage Act (Doma) law and encouraged its engagement with LGBT organisations internationally, including Stonewall’s Global Diversity Champions programme, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, Out on the Street (hosted by Citi in May last year) and the Anti-Violence Project.

23 Steven Cox

Executive director, public sector, Fujitsu UK and Ireland
At Fujitsu, Cox has used his position on the executive board to start, champion and visibly lead the LGB+ agenda, forming Shine, the company’s LGB+ networking group, and an LGB+ mentoring programme.

24 João Soares

Partner, Bain & Company
Soares is the leader of Bain’s Emea LGBT employee network, BGlad support group, and an advisor to prospective and current LGBT employees. He will feature on the LGBT Leaders Conference panel in February.

25 Steve Wardlaw

Partner, Baker Botts
Wardlaw has been openly out at work, despite holding office in Russia, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria. He has worked on diversity in Moscow and London, liaised with organisations such as Stonewall and OUTstanding, and hosted regular events and mentoring sessions.

26 John Dickinson

Stores implementation manager, Tesco Bank
Dickinson works across the Tesco Group and with the board to influence change within Tesco for LGBT-related issues, and furthers the company’s active involvement in the LGBT community.

27 Liz Bingham

Partner, EY
Bingham is the most senior LGBT Partner at EY and is the D&I co-sponsor. She was 57th in the World Pride Power List 2014, has received the Women in Banking & Finance Award, and is a global Stonewall Role Model.

28 Paul Reed

Chief executive officer, integrated supply and trading, BP

Reed is an executive sponsor of BP’s Pride Affinity Network. Formerly a member of BP’s Group Diversity Council, he chaired his own division of the Diversity Council and helped launch the LGBT Professional Oil Industry Network in Singapore.

29 Emma Woollcott

Associate, reputation protection team, Mishcon de Reya
Woollcott runs Mishcon’s Pride Network and founded Pink Law, a free legal advice service for LGBT people. She also provides pro bono advice to the national charity Broken Rainbow and is on the steering committee of the Gay Women’s Network.

30 Mark McLane

Global head, D&I, Barclays Bank
In his role at Barclays, McLane has introduced innovative approaches to communication and product design for the LGBT community. He also developed a global D&I strategy focusing on gender, LGBT, disability, multiculturalism and multigenerationalism.

31 Jacqueline Davies

Human resources director, Financial Conduct Authority
Davies sits on the FCA’s Diversity and Wider Operations committees. She was executive sponsor for the LGBT network at Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays, and a Stonewall trustee and chair of the Stonewall Board.

32 Alison Camps

Deputy chair, Quadrangle Research Group
Outside of Quadrangle, Camps is the director of marketing and advertising for Pride in London, a voluntary youth worker, a school governor and a coach for the Work Foundation’s Campaign for Leadership.

33 Roland White

D&I leader, Europe, IBM
White is an openly out IBM employee working with boards and senior leadership teams. He is also co-Chair of the IBM UK LGBT Network, giving guidance for LGBT employee policies and procedures.

34 Jan Gooding

Group brand director, Aviva
Gooding sponsors the LGBT employee network Aviva Pride. She is also chair of trustees at Stonewall and has participated on diversity panels for the Law Society and Stonewall.

35 Jim McEleney

Chief operating officer, EMEA, BNY Mellon
In addition to his role as COO, McEleney is chair of BNY Mellon’s Regional D&I Council, regional representative on the Global D&I Council, and EMEA executive sponsor for the women’s network. He has launched several LGBT initiatives.

36 Patrick Rowe

Managing director, UK and Ireland Legal Group, Accenture
At Accenture, Rowe engages with the board on LGBT equality issue strategies, hosting LGBT networking events and representing the company at outside events. He is also a formal mentor for LGB staff.

37 Simon Fillery

Global head of D&I, Barclays Investment Bank
As well as his role at Barclays Investment Bank, Fillery is the global lead for its LGBT Agenda. He also sits on the board as treasurer of the Albert Kennedy Trust.

38 Amir Kabel

D&I manager, Vodafone UK
Kabel’s role as diversity manager of Vodafone UK has seen him create a highly inclusive working environment. He has hosted summits, set up LGBT networks and written LGBT-rights guides for employers.

39 Javier Ruiz Del Rio

Senior account manager, Campaign Monitor
Del Rio was key in establishing the UK InterTech LGBT Network and has set up a global LGBT Network and mentoring programme for LGBT staff. He is also involved with Stonewall, Kaleidoscope and Cogam.

40 Tim Jarman

Assistant director, D&I, EY
Jarman is committed to driving EY’s LGBT agendas. He regularly speaks at diversity conferences, is involved with Stonewall, is on the National Student Pride steering committee and champions LGBT inclusiveness in sport.

41 Tony Tenicela

Global leader, workforce diversity and LGBT markets, IBM Corporation
Recognised by multinational corporations as a thought leader in diversity, Tenicela works to drive LGBT rights worldwide. He also manages IBM’s global LGBT commercial strategy, facilitating numerous corporate community partnerships across the globe.

42 Carole Anderson

Head of strategy and performance, Golden Jubilee National Hospital
At the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Anderson works to ensure that there is a general awareness of LGBT issues across the company and that the correct strategies are implemented. She is also actively involved with Stonewall Scotland.

43 Geoff Pringle

Chief operating officer, University of Exeter
As chair of the University of Exeter LGBT Equality Group (LGBTEG), Pringle has championed LGBT rights. He has also played a lead role in Exeter Pride and as a board member of HospisCare.

44 Alison Berryman

Chief operating officer, Barclaycard UK
As chief operating officer, Berryman is responsible for the operations and technology strategies of Barclaycard’s UK business. She is also a member of its LGBT network, Spectrum, working to create an open and diverse workforce.

45 Marianne Roling

Managing director, operating channels, Central and Eastern Europe, Microsoft
Roling sits on the board for the Gay and Lesbian Employees at Microsoft (Gleam), and speaks at events such as Women in Wireless and the Gay Women’s Network (GWN).

46 Matt Batham

Senior tax partner, Deloitte UK
Batham acts as a mentor for staff at Deloitte through its UK Globe network of 260 people. Matt has also been a panel member for organisations such as Interbank LGBT forum and speaks on LGBT panels.

47 Paul Maddock

Solicitor, DWF
Maddock chairs DWF’s LGBT employee Out Front Network, and has organised events for them in conjunction with Stonewall. He also reviewed the firm’s HR policies to help champion LGBT needs and has written articles on diversity.

48 Vinay Kapoor MBA

UK head of D&I, BNP Paribas
As Head of D&I at BNP Paribas UK, Kapoor is committed to driving the success of the group’s D&I agenda and founding its Diversity Week.

49 Alison McFadyen

Programme director, Standard Chartered Bank
As programme director of Standard Chartered Bank, McFadyen is an active member of the Standard Chartered LGBT network and a regular speaker at its LGBT events.

50 Deborah Sherry

Director, Partners Solutions, Google UK
Sherry has more than 18 years of experience in the online space and has continually strived to create an inclusive environment for LGBT staff. She is openly out both professionally and personally.

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Cast your vote for 2016

You don’t have to be a top executive to feature on this list. If there’s a person who you believe should be recognised for their work both in the office and the LGBT community, then you’ll have a chance to nominate them for the 2016 list. When compiling the Top 50 LGBT executives, a panel of expert judges will consider each individual according to various criteria. Nominations for next year’s list open in June 2015.

Visit outatworktop50.com for more information