Don Romano, president and CEO of Hyundai Canada recently won the Ally of Excellence Award from the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) — a newsworthy achievement for a number of reasons.
The award is noteworthy because it marks the first time ever that an automotive industry leader was recognized by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) for the CEDI Awards. The fact that Romano won for his contribution in making Canada a more “equitable, diverse and inclusive country” is also important.
“While there is still a lot of work to be done, it is also important to acknowledge the strides taken to have a true inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone feels welcome and accepted,” said Romano in a statement. He added that the award is “an honourable recognition and is owed to the collective effort by our team members at Hyundai.”
Romano was the first CEO in the auto sector to sign the BlackNorth Initiative’s CEO Pledge, while Hyundai Canada won Best Workplaces for Women by Great Place to Work on several occasions. He is also a big supporter of 360ºkids, which aims to support at-risk and homeless youth.
Romano received the award on June 1 during the Canadian Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Summit and Awards, which took place at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto, Ont. He was one of 15 leaders to be honoured by WXN for their work around equity, diversity and inclusion within their organizations, communities and workplaces.
“We will continue to learn, listen and take measures that support and welcome employees and customers from all walks of life into the Hyundai community,” said Romano.
