Guitar Center has named Paul Gimenez to the position of Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. The appointment follows a months-long search that stemmed from a commitment by the retailer to improve its diversity and inclusion efforts, both internally and externally within the musical instrument industry.
In this role, Gimenez will partner with key stakeholders across the Guitar Center enterprise in order to design, develop and lead the company’s diversity and inclusion initiative and related programs. He also will provide strategic advice and counsel to the organization’s senior leadership on diversity-related issues.
Gimenez previously worked as Director at Mentora Labs, where he provided executive-level support to develop innovative programs, streamline training initiatives and create learning tools to deepen the understanding of leadership, culture building, peer-to-peer collaboration and diversity and inclusion. Prior to that, he worked as Research and Solutions Consultant at NeuroLeadership Institute, where he spearheaded the development of diversity and inclusion. He also has experience as a suicide helpline volunteer, activist and social worker.
“Paul brings a wealth of knowledge and proven experience in developing and executing strategies that drive diversity, equity and inclusion across an ever-evolving landscape,” said Ron Japinga, Guitar Center President and CEO. “While evaluating the course of action for the position, we discovered that it is just as important for Guitar Center to be a place of belonging for all as it is a workplace that strives to promote and practice diversity and inclusivity. As such, ‘belonging’ was added to the responsibilities of the position and will be another vital component of our diversity and inclusion mission.”
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