Exposing Anti-White Harassment + Discrimination in US Media Companies
FAQs
Digitas
FAIL
digitas.com/en-us
TYPE: Marketing & Digital Transformation Agency
INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS: Capital Research and Management Company, BlackRock, The Vanguard Group, Parvus Asset Management Europe Ltd., Mawer Investment Management Ltd., Capital International Ltd., Amundi Asset Management, Janus Henderson Investors UK Ltd., Geode Capital Management, et al. (via parent company Publicis Groupe)
OWNER: Publicis Groupe
Subsidiaries: Digitas Health
2024 U.S. REVENUE:
2024 HEADCOUND: 1,400
375 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
communications@digitas.com
+1 212 610 5000
Digitas' heavy emphasis on DEI for market positioning and client service, driven by executives like Danisha Lomax (EVP, Head of Client Inclusivity & Impact, a Black woman), who is explicitly tasked with prioritizing "marginalized communities" and dramatically increasing media spending with BIPOC-owned properties (with reported increases upwards of 40%), strongly suggests that DEI outcomes are prioritized over neutral employment practices. This, combined with structures like the Multicultural Center of Excellence (McCOE) and the focus on inclusive marketing campaigns, creates a high probability that hiring, promotion, and talent development decisions are influenced by racial considerations.
Institutional investors like Capital Research and Management Company, BlackRock, and The Vanguard Group increasingly emphasize Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors, including diversity and inclusion metrics, in their investment stewardship and proxy voting guidelines. This external pressure from major parent company shareholders likely serves as a significant driver for Digitas' public commitments and strategic focus on ESG and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). Consequently, accountability for the design and impact of DEI initiatives rests primarily with the company's leadership and board, who must navigate these influential investor expectations.
Parent company Publicis Groupe’s DEI policies, led by Global Chief Inclusion Officer Renetta McCann and previously supported by Black female figures like Geraldine White (terminated in 2024 amid anti-White harassment allegations at Saatchi & Saatchi) and Ronnie Dickerson Stewart, emphasize race-based initiatives, including a €45 million investment for “underrepresented people and people of color” and support for groups like VivaWomen of Color, potentially excluding White employees and risking disparate treatment. Mandatory unconscious bias training, such as the “Make Some Room” workshop, and statements from leaders like Andrew Swinand and Susie Nam prioritizing non-White hiring and opportunities may foster a hostile environment for White employees, compounded by race-divisive rhetoric from figures like Dierdra Donahue and Chioke McRae at DEI events. The company’s binary categorization of employees (people of color vs. White) and a 2024 DEI team reduction amid legal and political challenges highlight risks of marginalizing White employees, while pressure from institutional investors like BlackRock and Vanguard, focused on ESG and DEI metrics, drives Publicis Groupe’s strategic commitments, with accountability lying with its leadership and board.
This information is based on publicly available information, including websites, case studies, and news articles from a recent period. To ensure you have the most accurate and current information, please refer to the company's official announcements. The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice; consult a licensed attorney for specific legal guidance.
DieDEI.co is waiting on internal materials for a fuller picture of Digitas’ DEI program. Follow us on social and subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
DIGITAS HEALTH CLIENTS: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, GSK, Novartis, etc.
NOTE: Client lists are subject to change. This information is based on publicly available information, including websites, case studies, and news articles from a recent period. To ensure you have the most accurate and current information, please refer to the company's official announcements.