IRVINE, CA /diversitybusiness.com/ Premier Automotive Group -- an
enterprise of Ford Motor Company -- is forming a new diversity advisory
council to cover its four European marques (Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover
and Volvo). The new unified council is replacing the previously separate
councils for Jaguar and Volvo and provides Aston Martin and Land Rover with
their first diversity advisory committee. Lincoln will continue with its own
dedicated advisory council.
The new council is to be chaired by Julian Bond, Chairman of the board of
the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) with
Vic Doolan, Executive Director, Premier Automotive Group, leading
representation from the four European marques. In total, the new council will
have 10 external members, representing a wide range of diverse audiences.
"Following the progress made by the independent Jaguar and Volvo diversity
advisory councils, I am pleased that Premier Automotive Group has continued to
recognize the importance of its diverse consumer base in this country," said
Julian Bond, Chairman of the Premier Automotive Group Diversity Advisory
Council. "We are seeing a rapid change in consumer demographics in this
country and it is important that organizations like the Premier Automotive
Group recognize the value in doing business with a much more diverse consumer
base than ever before."
The new council will advise the four European marques on a wide variety of
business issues including marketing, advertising, human resources and
franchise development.
Vic Doolan,
Executive Director, Premier Automotive Group said, "We have been pleased
with the progress made through the Jaguar and Volvo advisory councils but
realized that we needed to extend our reach to cover all of our European
marques. We also see great opportunities in accelerating the pace of
diversity, in accordance with the dynamic development of the U.S.
population," continued Doolan.
In 1998, Jaguar became the first company within Premier Automotive Group
to establish a diversity advisory council. Volvo established a similar council
in 1999. In the fall of 2001, Premier Automotive Group established its new
North American headquarters in Irvine, CA which helped to bring together the
five marques within the group and the subsequent decision to form a new
advisory council that would assist the four European marques.
The external members are:
| Julian Bond |
Chairman, NAACP |
| Susan Au Allen |
President, US Plan Asian American
Chamber of Commerce |
| Charles Barrett |
Principle, Barrett Jaguar Land Rover
Volvo |
| Anna Escobedo Cabral |
President & CEO, Hispanic Assoc. on
Corporate Responsibility |
| Earl B. (Butch) Graves |
President & CEO, Black Enterprise
Magazine |
| Christy Haubegger |
Founder, Board Member, Latina
Magazine |
| Randi Payton |
President & CEO, On Wheels,
Inc. |
| Jeff Shiraki |
Vice President, Hay Management
Consultants |
| Sheila Vaden Williams |
President, National Association of
Minority Automobile Dealers |
Source: Premier Automotive Group