TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2019 /CNW/ - BMO Financial
Group's Miguel Mendes has been
recognized at Start Proud's 2019 Leaders to be Proud Of Awards. Mr.
Mendes was awarded the Professional Leader Award in recognition of
his contributions to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and
two-spirited (LGBTQ2+) business community.
Mr. Mendes chairs BMO Pride– an enterprise resource group
comprised of employees across Canada, Europe, and Asia collectively working to ensure an
inclusive environment for LGBTQ2+ employees and customers. BMO's
ERGs are employee-led and key enablers of diversity and inclusion
at BMO with more than 6,000 allies and members. Through his
involvement in BMO Pride he has helped to:
- Advise executive leadership on the creation of enterprise-wide
LGBTQ2+ inclusion strategies
- Establish BMO's North American in-branch Gender Pronoun
Initiative
- Design a bank-wise transgender inclusion strategy; launch BMO's
first LGBTQ2+ mentorship program
- Lead Team BMO in the annual pride and remembrance run
fundraiser
- Expand BMO Pride's presence in the UK and Asia.
Additionally, through BMO's pro bono program Mr. Mendes
advocates against discrimination and violence against LGBTQ2+
individuals internationally.
"I am thrilled Miguel is being honoured for his exemplary work
as an advocate for inclusivity and diversity," said Mona Malone, Head of People & Culture and
Chief Human Resources Officer, BMO Financial Group. "All too often
LGBTQ2+ individuals are unable to live safely as their authentic
selves. At BMO, we believe it's our Purpose to Boldly Grow the Good
in business and in life, and we are proud to work alongside leaders
such as Miguel to fuel change and work towards creating an
inclusive society."
"This incredible honour is really a reflection of the genuinely
inclusive culture we've built at BMO," said Miguel Mendes, Chief Compliance Officer, BMO
Investments Inc. "BMO is a place where our LGBTQ2+ employees and
customers can always be their authentic selves – and where
employees like me are encouraged and empowered to help tear down
all barriers to inclusion. I'm lucky to work here."
BMO Financial Group is committed to supporting LGBTQ2+
communities across North America.
Notable initiatives and achievements include:
- Achieved 100 per cent on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
Foundation's 2019 Corporate Equality Index, which rates workplaces
on LGBTQ equality
- Platinum Sponsor for the pride & remembrance run, the
largest fundraising event held during Toronto's Pride Month celebrations
- Supported Pride activities in more than 20 communities across
North America
- Expanded the Gender Pronoun Initiative to 50 branches from
coast-to-coast to give transgender, non-binary and gender-fluid
customers a safe space to share their pronouns with
representatives
- Signing the United Nations' Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and
Intersex (LGBTI) Standards of Conduct for Business
About BMO Financial Group
Serving customers for 200
years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services
provider - the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America.
With total assets of $839 billion as of July 31,
2019, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO
provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth
management and investment banking products and services to more
than 12 million customers and conducts business through three
operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth
Management and BMO Capital Markets.
SOURCE BMO Financial Group