Gay travel executives feature in list of top LGBT role models
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce and Monarch Group chief executive Andrew Swaffield feature in a list released this week of the leading 100 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender executives.
The OUTstanding 2015 list, compiled by networking group OUTstanding and published in the Financial Times, also includes other top travel executives:
– Virgin Holidays managing director Mark Anderson
– Hoseasons managing director Simon Altham
– Premier Inn brand marketing director Russell Braterman
– Lufthansa chief strategy officer and senior vice president Sadiq Gillani
– AirBnB chief marketing officer Jonathan Mildenhall
– Hertz Global Holdings vice president global merchandising and ancillary revenue Brian Casebolt.
The list is designed to encourage more people to be open in the workplace by highlighting LGBT role models in business.
According to research, employees who are in the closet are 70% more likely to leave the company within the first three years.
In addition, 85% of those responding to a survey of OUTstanding’s network of LGBT executives and their Allies said non-inclusive workplaces have a negative impact on employees and can damage productivity.
OUTstanding founder and chief executive Suki Sandhu said: "Compared to 2013, we see far more people wanting to be associated with the lists – this year we have 42 brand new additions to the top 100 alone.
"This is fantastic news as I hope it shows people are both more comfortable about being their true selves at work, and also that they see the value of ‘going public’ in terms of inspiring the next generation of leaders.
"I’m hugely proud that all of our featured role models continue to challenge the assumption that you can’t be openly LGBT in business and be a success.
"Those featured are an inspiration to anyone who fears that they may have to be closeted at work, and waste valuable effort muting their authentic selves."
Inga Beale, the Lloyd’s of London chief executive, was top of this year’s list – the first time a woman, and a bisexual, has topped the list.
A separate list of LGBT allies features Virgin Atlantic’s Sir Richard Branson.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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