First Data Joins Elite Group of American Companies Recognized for Diversity Efforts

19 May First Data Joins Elite Group of American Companies Recognized for Diversity Efforts

ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–First Data Corporation, the global leader in payment technology and services solutions, earned inclusion in DiversityInc’s just-published list of “25 Noteworthy Companies” for its wide-ranging efforts to create a diverse workforce. The honor was based on several factors, including demographics of employees and new hires, promotions into management positions, employee-resource groups, manager participation in cross-cultural mentoring, and a strong commitment by senior leadership.

“We are dedicated to building and celebrating a diverse and inclusive workforce,” said Cindy Armine-Klein, Chief Control Officer and leader of First Data’s LGBT affinity group, UNITY, one of the many groups at First Data aimed at growing diversity within the company’s culture. “Bringing together unique points of view is imperative to creating a strong sense of community and building a better business.”

“With more than 1,000 companies participating, the competition for a spot on the DiversityInc Top 50 and Specialty Lists was up over 30% this year,” said DiversityInc Founder and CEO Luke Visconti. “Companies are recognizing the importance of diversity for corporate reputation – which directly affects millennial-generation recruiting and retention. And whether you’re talking about Silicon Valley, Ferguson, or Indiana, there’s no denying that stories about how far we still need to come regarding diversity have been dominating the headlines in 2015.”

First Data has several company-wide diversity initiatives that celebrate and bring together members of the company across the globe, including the Black Leadership Council, UNITY, Women’s Leadership Council, Military Affinity Group, among others.

The acknowledgment from DiversityInc is the latest example of First Data’s recognition for its commitment to diversity. In the past year, First Data was named “Best Place to Work” for LGBT equality by the Human Rights Campaign and achieved a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index. The company was also ranked in the top 20 by the Military Times on its “Best for Vets: Employers 2015” list.

About First Data

First Data is the global leader in payment technology and services solutions. With 23,000 owner-associates and operations in 34 countries, the company provides secure and innovative payment technology and services to more than six million merchants and financial institutions around the world, from small businesses to the world’s largest corporations. Today, businesses in nearly 70 countries trust First Data to secure and process over 2,000 financial transactions per second. First Data’s unparalleled infrastructure and partnerships go “beyond the transaction” with next-generation point-of-sale technology fueled by powerful analytics to detect fraud, gain insights into consumer spending, and strengthen customer loyalty. All day, every day, First Data helps its clients thrive in the evolving world of commerce.

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