Diversity Strategy Key to Success

Amsterdam (June 18, 2009) - Michael Pilnick, chief HR officer of Wolters Kluwer North American Shared Services, was interviewed in the June issue of HRO Today, a publication dedicated to covering the outsourced HR services market, targeted to senior HR managers and executives.

While many companies are still struggling with diversity, for others it has been a priority for several years. In the article, "In Diversity Efforts, Employers Turn to External Expertise," Pilnick discusses Wolters Kluwer’s diversity strategy. Already underway for several years, it is driven from the top-down. Nancy McKinstry, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Wolters Kluwer, is one of the only female CEOs of a Dutch stock-listed company, and has made diversity one of the company’s strategic priorities.

Wolters Kluwer’s diversity strategy is closely tied to business objectives. There’s a good reason for this: Wolters Kluwer customers make up a diverse group across cultures, geographies, and professional fields. Developing an employee base that can relate to its customers is vital to the company’s success.

“Diversity is no different from any other business initiative. The truth of the matter is, if we are not open to new ways of thinking in this organization, we would lose the battle,” Pilnick stated. “We very smartly have matched our sales workforce to our clients’ needs—urban environments as well as other cultural needs.”

While recruitment is driven internally, some functions are outsourced to take advantage of industry best practices and free HR staff to focus on strategic initiatives.

For the full article, visit HRO Today online.
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