[News Terms] 'Chief Diversity Officer' Gains Attention Again Following Disney Resignation

The 'Chief Diversity Officer (CDO)' is an executive who creates a work environment where employees of various ages, genders, races, and backgrounds can work without discrimination and fully demonstrate their abilities within the company.

According to a 2016 study by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), organizations with diversity enhance creativity and develop the ability to identify risks. They also foster an atmosphere of agreement and trust, facilitating smooth execution of decision-making. Therefore, organizations with a culture that embraces diversity are twice as likely to achieve financial goals, three times more likely to record high performance, six times more likely to be innovative, and eight times more likely to achieve better business outcomes compared to those without such a culture.

Haley Bailey, who played the role of the mermaid in Disney's live-action musical film "The Little Mermaid," attended the film premiere held in London, UK, on the 15th of last month (local time). The Little Mermaid became a direct cause for the resignation of Disney's Chief Diversity Officer (CDO), Latondra Newton, due to the controversy over "blackwashing."
[Photo by London EPA/ Yonhap News]

Among the top 100 companies selected by the American business magazine 'Fortune,' 16 have a CDO. Even the U.S. government employs CDOs. In April 2021, the Joe Biden administration established a 'Diversity and Inclusion' department under the State Department to pursue racial justice in diplomatic positions and appointed Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, a Black woman and former U.S. ambassador to Malta, as the State Department's CDO.

Major foreign media reported on the resignation of Latondra Newton, Disney's CDO and Senior Vice President, on the 21st (local time), bringing renewed attention to the role of CDOs.

Newton, who joined Disney in 2017, led the company's strategic diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, producing entertainment content that reflects the diversity of global audiences and collaborating with various teams to create a welcoming and inclusive workplace environment. During Newton's tenure, Disney featured gay, lesbian, transgender, and other minority characters in animated series and films.

However, following the global box office failure of the live-action adaptation of 'The Little Mermaid' released last month, there is speculation that Disney may have carried out a disciplinary personnel move. It is being watched closely whether Disney, which had emphasized 'political correctness (PC)' in the entertainment industry, will take a different approach following this personnel change.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.