H.J. Heinz Company Named Employer of Choice by MCCA

H.J. Heinz Company Named Employer of Choice by Minority Corporate Counsel Association

Washington, D.C. – The Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) has named the law department of H.J. Heinz Company as its 2012 Employer of Choice Award winner for the Mid-Atlantic Region. Heinz was selected from law department applicants of corporations across the Mid-Atlantic for demonstrating a commitment to diversity and creating and maintaining an inclusive workplace. The company will be recognized at MCCA’s Diversity Honors Gala in September

The Heinz Law Department was selected as an Employer of Choice for recognizing the fundamental importance of achieving a diverse work force of attorneys, professionals and other team members. Heinz pursues diversity and inclusion initiatives across all functions to achieve a skilled, high-performing workforce that is reflective of the diverse global marketplace. Guided by its diversity plan, Heinz has created an environment in which all members can feel valued and respected. The Law Department supports and encourages education and training opportunities (including diversity awareness and management), and sponsors intern programs and scholarships for minority students. The department also has a task force that regularly evaluates its diversity policies and procedures.

“Heinz has earned the title of Employer of Choice by making diversity and inclusion part of its daily culture,” said Joseph K. West, MCCA’s President and CEO. “It’s one thing to have a diversity plan, it’s quite another to establish concrete goals and hold leadership accountable for them. Heinz has done this, creating opportunities for everyone and helping them to achieve their potential, grow to leadership and contribute to the company’s success.”

“At Heinz, we understand that meeting the needs of the evolving global community requires creativity and innovation that only diversity can bring to our business. A diverse global workforce enables Heinz to foster an inclusive culture that embraces differences and drives innovation to accelerate growth,” according to Ted Bobby, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of H.J. Heinz Company.

Heinz and four other regional winners will be honored at MCCA’s Diversity Honors Gala at the Lincoln Center in New York City on September 11. The evening will begin with a red-carpet reception followed by the awards program in the Starr Theater that combines honors with entertainment, ending with an elegant VIP Reception in Alice Tully Hall. MCCA will also recognize Diversity Innovators, corporate legal departments, and law firms or legal associations that implement outstanding diversity programs. And one individual will be honored with MCCA’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

Hosting the gala will be Sunny Hostin, attorney and multi-platform journalist. Hostin is CNN’s legal analyst and a contributor for In Session on TruTV. She is also an anchor on ABC News’ World News Now and America This Morning.

To learn more about MCCA’s Diversity Honors Gala and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.mcca.com or contact Jennifer Chen, Vice President – External Relations, at JenChen@mcca.com or 202-739-5902.

About Heinz
H.J. Heinz Company is one of the world’s leading marketers and producers of healthy, convenient and affordable foods specializing in ketchup, sauces, meals, soups, snacks and infant nutrition. Heinz provides superior quality, taste and nutrition for all eating occasions whether in the home, restaurants, the office or “on the go.”

About MCCA
The mission of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association is to advance the hiring, retention, and promotion of diverse attorneys in legal departments and the law firms that serve them. MCCA furthers its mission by publishing research on achieving diversity and best practices in the legal profession, honoring innovative diversity programs with its Employer of Choice and Thomas L. Sager awards, and assisting diverse law students through the Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Scholarship Program. MCCA’s work has been recognized with awards from the National Minority Business Council, Inc., the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Gay and Lesbian Law Association, and the Association of Corporate Counsel.

Founded in 1997, MCCA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and also has a Southeast regional office in Atlanta, Ga. For more information, go to mcca.com.