Essity signs the CEO Pledge

On January 29, 2025, our CEO Allyson Zimmermann visited our partner Essity in Sweden, where Magnus Groth, CEO of Essity, and his leadership team reaffirmed their commitment to an inclusive workplace by signing the LEAD Network CEO Gender Equity Pledge.

“At Essity, we know that an inclusive culture is key to deeper engagement and more insightful decision-making. By signing the CEO Gender Equity Pledge, we further emphasise our determination to ensure an inclusive work environment for all.” – said Magnus Groth.

Read more in Essity’s news article

This pledge was signed not only by Magnus Groth but also by key leaders: Volker Zöller – President, Consumer Goods EMEA, Anna Sävinger Åslund – Chief HR Officer and Pablo Fuentes – President, Professional Hygiene.

LEAD Network thanks Essity for their dedication to advancing women in the retail and consumer goods industry while driving sustainable business value.

Why This Matters:

By signing the CEO Gender Equity Pledge industry leaders commit to collectively increasing the LEAD Network Gender Diversity Scorecard (GDS) in the CPG & Retail industry by five percentage points, from 37% (2023) to 42% by 2027, and to building a plan to achieve gender parity over the next decade.

The Gender Diversity Scorecard is a bi-annual report that tracks the percentage of women in senior executive roles within the retail and consumer goods industry across Europe.  This year’s edition launches March 3, 2025.

CEOs interested in signing the pledge can connect with LEAD Network’s CEO, Allyson Zimmermann.  Learn more: https://theleadnetwork.net/ceo-pledge/

In the photo, from left:  Volker Zöller - President Consumer Goods EMEA; Allyson Zimmermann, CEO LEAD Network; Magnus Groth - President and CEO; Anna Sävinger Åslund - Chief HR Officer; Pablo Fuentes - President Professional Hygiene.