Lila Group becomes the first company from Turkey to sign the ‘CEO Pledge’

Lila Group has become the first company from Turkey to sign the ‘CEO Pledge’ protocol of Lead Network. The corporation, in accordance with the CEO Pledge protocol, shall increase its number of female employees by 5% by the year 2023. Adopting the mission of attracting Turkey’s skilled and competent female workforce to the retail and consumer goods industry and contributing to the industry by providing assistance to increase the number, reputation and influence of women leaders, Lila Group, a corporate member of Lead Network, proceeds with its endeavors to increase the female employees’ share in the economy.

Lila Group undertakes to increase the number of female employees by 5% by the year 2023 as the first Turkish signatory of the ‘CEO Pledge’ implemented by Lead Network, with the headquarters in Amsterdam, across the entire countries it operates.

Alp Öğücü, CEO of Lila Group, has commented on the significance of the employment endeavors and the ‘CEO Pledge’ protocol established by Lead Network which is an international non-governmental organization, saying: “Various researches have been conducted up until today on the contributions of women to the economy and the challenges encountered by the female employees in the business life. Unfortunately, the outcomes of the researches are far from being promising and pleasant. We are the country ranked at the bottom of the list of female employment with 34% among the OECD countries. As a group, we always adopt an attitude in favor of gender equality, and we shall continue to do so for the future. In this regard, we are ready to do our best to enhance and improve the contribution of our women to our economy and business world. In this sense, CEO Pledge is a substantive opportunity for us. I am glad and honored to announce that we pledge to increase the number of our female employees by 5% until the year 2023”. Öğücü further stated: “We have been currently carrying on our endeavors for a while to segregate and increase the fields of operation and positions in our manufacturing facility that women are able to engage. Therefore, I have no doubts for accomplishing our objective within the shortest time”.

Mick Broekhof, co-founder of LEAD Network states has commented: ”The signing of the CEO Pledge by Alp Öğücü, CEO of Lila Group, is a momentous occasion in the history of LEAD Network: Lila Group is the first company in Turkey to sign the Pledge. Lila Group joins the ranks of marquee companies including Ahold Delhaize, Costco Wholesale, DB Schenker, Diversey, Mars, Procter & Gamble, CHEP, Nielsen, and Coca-Cola who have already committed to improve the number of female executives in their organisations by the early 2020s. We trust other CPG and Retail companies in Turkey will follow the example set by Lila Group”.

Füsun Tavus Mumcu, Founding President of LEAD Network Turkey said: “Lila Group is the one of the first supporter of LEAD Network Turkey since founding date. The signing of the CEO Pledge by Alp Öğücü, CEO of Lila Group, showed that the company’s perspective regarding ‘Diversity and Inclusion’. CEO Pledge is an important indicator of that. As the founding president, it’s an honour and I am happy to see signature of Mr. Öğücü besides the signature of the CEO of the largest world-wide companies. Besides that, Lila Group is the first company in Turkey to sign the Pledge”.