Knight Frank has appointed Hannah Awonuga from Barclays Bank to the newly created role of group head of diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I).
In her new role, Awonuga, who was global director and head of DE&I colleague engagement at Barclays, will provide strategic direction to Knight Frank’s group executive and UK boards and formulate and execute a strategy to “facilitate the adoption of industry-wide best practices in DE&I, as well as develop a set of metrics which will drive this agenda across the group”.
Karen Bowes, group chief people officer at Knight Frank, said: “At Knight Frank we are committed to unlocking the potential of all our people, creating a diverse place to work where all are seen, heard, valued and thrive. Due to the efforts of our Business Balance groups, we have made great progress but have much to do. Hannah’s appointment is demonstrative of our commitment to build an inclusive and balanced partnership, and her experience will enable us to implement a robust, measurable DE&I strategy and plan, designed to create equitable outcomes for all.”
Awonuga added: “Knight Frank’s focus on its people mirrors my own values and commitment to creating a culture where everyone can thrive. It is critical to the success of our business to enhance the employee experience and ensure that we are cultivating a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion across the business. I look forward to working with the board, partners and all colleagues to build on Knight Frank’s culture to create an environment where all colleagues have a sense of inclusion and belonging.”
