Korn Ferry Appoints Chief Diversity Officer
June 15, 2020 – Korn Ferry has named Michael Hyter as the firm’s new chief diversity officer. He will report directly to CEO Gary Burnison and join the senior executive team.
Mr. Hyter joined Korn Ferry in 2012 after the acquisition of Global Novations, a leading diversity and inclusion firm in which he served as president and managing partner. Since the acquisition, Mr. Hyter has played an instrumental role in growing the breadth of Korn Ferry’s D&I business. “I’m thrilled Mike is assuming the role of chief diversity officer,” said Mr. Burnison. “He is the right person, at the right time to further our embrace of diverse perspectives and backgrounds and drive meaningful change within Korn Ferry and with clients.”
Mr. Hyter’s appointment elevates Korn Ferry’s ongoing focus on and commitment to D&I programs and initiatives, as he takes full responsibility for D&I globally, said the firm.
For over 25 years, Mr. Hyter has served as an advisor to senior leaders in a variety of industries. In addition to D&I consulting, he has a wealth of experience in leadership development and has worked closely with Fortune 1000 executives and boards to help their organizations thrive through diverse talent. Most recently, Mr. Hyter served as managing partner of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office and leads Korn Ferry’s internal D&I council.
Active Involvement
Recently, Mr. Hyter joined with other Korn Ferry leaders and colleagues to launch, host and participate in a series of video town halls, webinars and conversations with clients and Korn Ferry colleagues to address racial equality in the corporate world.
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A successful author, Mr. Hyter’s most recent publication is The Power of Choice: Embracing Efficacy to Drive Your Career. He is also co-author of The Power of Inclusion: Unlock the Potential and Productivity of Your Workforce. He has published extensive articles in publications including the Handbook of Business Strategy, Director’s Monthly, Profiles in Diversity Journal, and Inc.
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Mr. Hyter is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) and is the former chair of the ELC Foundation. He also a member of the Economic Club of Washington, D.C. He was recognized by Savoy Magazine in 2016 and 2018 as one of the most influential blacks in corporate America.
Committed to Diversity & Inclusion
Korn Ferry believes organizations need to take a more systemic approach to D&I and tackling racism. The firm points to two pillars to building a diverse and inclusive organization:
- Behavioral inclusion:driving personal transformation in leaders and employees – enabling them to recognize bias and mitigate it.
- Structural inclusion:transforming the system itself – re-shaping talent processes to ensure they are fair and equitable.
Korn Ferry has a track record of designing and building diversity functions within client organizations, and attracting, developing, and rewarding the executives within them. Because of the firm’s nuanced understanding of the issues and opportunities surrounding inclusion, Korn Ferry is able to define the key leadership attributes of effective chief diversity officers and other D&I practitioners, and apply these criteria to organization design, assessment and succession, talent acquisition, leadership development, rewards, and more.
“I’m a true believer in the power of D&I and the impact it can have on a company’s culture, values and growth,” said Mr. Hyter. “A critical factor to any company’s success is having a diverse mix of talent who can take on the challenges and opportunities they face now and in the future.”
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
