Bhagwat will lead DE&I advancement for the agency’s UK office and support wider initiatives for the rest of its global operations

LONDON (September 20, 2022) – Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) agency Golin announced today the appointment of Nina Bhagwat as global group director of diversity, equity & inclusion (DE&I). Bhagwat is based in the agency’s London office and will split her time leading UK programming while also supporting the agency’s global commitment to advancing DE&I progress. She reports to Natasha O’Dell Archer, senior vice president, DE&I.

Bhagwat’s appointment will help Golin activate U.S. led DE&I efforts and infrastructure across the network’s 50-plus global markets. In the UK, and globally, Nina will focus on elevating Golin’s DE&I Theory of Change that rolled out last year, building success against its five pillars – recruitment, training, employee engagement, client support and measurement, as well as  expanding global initiatives toward DE&I advancement for all Golin Group agency brands.

“We have a big ambition at Golin to create change that matters for our people, our clients and in the communities in which we do business, and that ambition has a long road ahead for DE&I especially in the UK,” said Ondine Whittington, managing director of Golin London. “Our UK team is passionate about driving meaningful impact in DE&I and having Nina as a dedicated leader will help us advance our local goals faster, as well as helping us build operational best practice that aligns with the agency’s global agenda.”

Bhagwat brings over a decade of DE&I experience within the creative industries to the agency. Prior to joining Golin she was interim director of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) at The-Barbican, hired to drive anti-racism work following the publication of Barbican Stories by employee activists.

She also worked for Warner Music as their first EDI hire globally, where she was responsible for leading, devising and delivering Warner’s DE&I five year strategy for the UK, and she worked in TV as an off-screen diversity executive at C4 delivering notable projects for Spotlight on Directors, the Year of Disability and Lived Experience.

“Nina is a seasoned and passionate leader who has worked across the creative sector to enhance business results through DE&I progress with a unique abilty to harness the value of difference,” said Archer. “She’s known for being a committed advocate for talent, and I’m excited to have her bring that passion to her work at Golin as we strive to deliver on our mission of making sure our workforce authentically reflects today’s market as well as creates a culture of inclusion.”

Together Archer and Bhagwat will oversee the agency’s International Equity Taskforce that launced earlier this year and consists of more than 50 managing directors and specialty leaders who are driving the agency’s DE&I commitment. They will also collaborate with local DE&I councils on regional and local activations and continue Archer’s effort to rollout a new collection of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that represent the agency’s diverse workforce. To date four global ERGs have been launched for Latine, Latina, Latino, Hispanic and Spanish-speaking employees; Black, African American, African, Caribbean and mixed-race part Black employees; Asian or Pacific Islander employees; and employees who identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community – with other ERGs planned later this year.

“I’m excited to be joining Golin as we take our Global DE&I journey to the next stage,” said Bhagwat. “The leadership team’s commitment to moving the dial on inclusion is clear to see, and I am delighted to be joining the team who have driven this work. Having the opportunity to focus on DE&I in the UK office as we establish solid foundations for inclusion, as well as build on the brilliant work that is already in train across our territories is an absolute dream.”

Bhagwat will also support some of the agency’s latest external DE&I training programs, including PRep School, a brand-new fellowship program for future Black leaders that offers career development opportunities to students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and from sororities and fraternities from The Divine Nine. PRep School is currently open for applications in the U.S. and will officially kick-off in June.

“I’ve always said I have the most interesting and rewarding job in the world,” said Bhagwat. “I work on an agenda I am committed to, I get to experience different industries, and I know I will learn something new every day. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves, learning about our business and culture, and partnering with Natasha and the Global DE&I team.