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Merrill Lynch

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Merrill Lynch is one of the world's leading wealth management, capital markets and advisory companies with offices in 37 countries and territories and total client assets of approximately $1.6 trillion.  As an investment bank, it is a leading global trader and underwriter of securities and derivatives across a broad range of asset classes and serves as a strategic adviser to corporations, governments, institutions and individuals worldwide.  Merrill Lynch owns approximately half of BlackRock, one of the world largest publicly traded investment management companies with more that $1 trillion in assets under management.

Motivation
As Merrill Lynch has successfully reinvented itself over the years- from a U.S based retail securities broker to a diversified global financial services company - our workforce diversity efforts have evolved as well.
The focus on race and gender issues that initially drove our diversity initiatives in the United States now has a global perspective.  We want to ensure that Merrill Lynch is a meritocracy in which diversity thrives at every level and at every location of the company.

Success in Action
The full support of senior management is key to the success of our diversity ambitions at Merrill Lynch.  The Diversity and Inclusion Council directs diversity strategy and influences at the highest level of our organisation and in EMEA, the council is supported by External Diversity Advisers, Janet Gaymer CBE and Dr Celia de Anca.
We firmly believe that we must create an environment where we can attract, retain and develop the best female talent available - it is our most important diversity objective EMEA and sends a clear message to our clients and partners as well as colleagues that female talent is vital to our continuing success as a business.
To this end we formed a internal women's network, The EMEA  Women's Leadership Council ( WLC ) to help us achieve this objective.  Chaired by two senior female colleagues in the firm, the WLC is composed of senior females from across all our business divisions and has seen significant growth over the year and half since its inception, to over 800 active members.  With a range of regular events, from training programmes, recruitment events, mentoring and panel seminars on topics such as leadership and flexible working, the Council members have truly been role models for what can be achieved in gender diversity.
The active development of our professional women is complimented by the Diversity Talent Reviews, held every year to identify , promote and retain future leaders for our firm.
Merrill Lynch if focused on creating an innovative working culture: promoting intelligent working practices to allow all employees to maintain a healthy work/ life balance. In addition to our wide flexible working policies, we offer a highly competitive, best practice maternity programme, designed to make the transitions onto maternity leave and the return to the workplace a smooth process.  Women and their manger are supported with 1:1 coaching and workshops, and our 9 month maternity pay is the most generous amongst the investment banks.

Impact
Merril Lynch was awarded 'Gold Standard' in the Opportunity Now Benchmark ( Gender Equality) for 2005/06. Independently assessed by Brighton University measuring gender equality in policy, procedure and practice.  Merril Lynch scored over 18% above the financial sector in general. In 2006 the WLC sponsored a client event entitled ' Expand your Horizons'.  This brought together over twenty senior female business figures from across the UK for a successful showcase of Merrill Lynch talent, our diversity agenda and the benefits of doing business with our firm.
With the Leadership in Diversity & Inclusion Awards, Merrill Lynch annually recognises those employees who take a leadership role outside of their normal job responsibilities to advance diversity and inclusion in the company.  In 2007, 50% if the winners were women.