Wealth manager Quilter has appointed Tosin James-Odukoya as its new head of inclusion and wellbeing.

Prior to joining Quilter, she was the global lead of inclusion and diversity at the mobile phone operator’s trade body, GSMA.

At the GSMA where she revamped recruitment practices to improve diversity across gender, race and other demographics, Quilter said.

Her experience also includes HR roles at Alexander Mann Solutions, the New York Stock Exchange and HSBC. 

She will be based in London and will be responsible for leading Quilter’s inclusion, diversity and employee wellbeing programmes.

Her goal will be to cultivate a “more diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation.”

She succeeds Kate Richardson who, having set the inclusion and diversity strategy for the business is leaving to pursue studies at the London School of Economics. 

Paul Feeney, CEO and executive sponsor of I&D at Quilter, said: “Creating an inclusive and diverse culture where all colleagues feel they can be themselves has always been a core tenet of our cultural agenda. It’s one of the key personal objectives I set myself when we listed. 

We have made a good start with our Thrive employee wellbeing initiative; the launch of employee-run networks providing forums for discussion; an enhanced suite of family-friendly policies; significantly improving our diversity data and implementing a diverse shortlist policy. 

“However, I know we have more to do, particularly to ensure the diversity of our organisation reflects our commitment to inclusion. Tosin brings great experience to help us build on the foundations we have set, and I look forward to working with her on this important agenda.”

Ms James-Odukoya said: “The commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace attracted me to Quilter and I’m looking forward to introducing new ideas to help the business meet its I&D aims. 

“It is clear the business recognises the commercial sense of driving a diversity agenda, not just in terms of talent retention and recruitment, but also in delivering services that are more reflective of a changing society.”