John Zamora, Deloitte's Chief Diversity Officer, Honored as "Executive of the Year" by Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting

NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA) has named John Zamora, chief diversity officer, Deloitte LLP as its 2011 "Executive of the Year." Zamora's tireless dedication to increasing Latino representation throughout professional service organizations and expanding leadership opportunities for diverse talent at Deloitte was formally recognized on August 9 at the ALPFA Awards Gala at the 2011 ALPFA National Convention in Anaheim, California.

"A diverse workforce is vital to successfully serve clients today," said Joe Echevarria, chief executive officer, Deloitte LLP and 2007 "Executive of the Year" recipient. "As a Hispanic myself, I am proud to say diversity and inclusion has long been part of Deloitte's culture. There's no question that diversity of thought brings the best ideas and solutions to our clients. John is a major factor in our efforts, and continues to define and drive a concise diversity strategy that ties directly -- and strategically -- to Deloitte's business objectives. I would like to congratulate John and the whole Deloitte organization, as this is truly a recognition of the efforts of many."

Under Zamora's leadership, Deloitte is making great strides in attracting, retaining and developing a diverse mix of top talent. Through initiatives such as the Emerging Leadership Development Program (ELDP), which prepares high-performing minority professionals for the next stage in their careers, Zamora and Deloitte are working to increase the amount of diverse people in senior positions. A critical part of Zamora's approach to leadership development is a sponsorship and mentoring culture that supports rising talent as they navigate their career paths and achieve their professional goals. More than 80 percent of Deloitte's employees participated in mentoring programs last year.

"Deloitte's commitment to supporting the growth and development of diverse talent is unmatched," said Manny Espinoza, chief executive officer, ALPFA. "John's leadership has been critical in this regard and has helped shape an inclusive environment where diverse talent thrives. His efforts serve as a model for other leaders in professional services."

"This is a tremendous honor from an organization that shares a commitment to furthering diversity and inclusion in our profession and expanding opportunities for Latinos to pursue careers in business," said Zamora. "Equipped with the right tools to engage students and young professionals, we look forward to continue working alongside organizations like ALPFA to increase talent recruitment and retention in this field and support those who will become our future leaders."

Earlier this year, Zamora was named to the Hispanic Business 2011 Corporate Elite, which recognizes 25 influential Hispanic business leaders.

A number of organizations have recognized Deloitte's progress in creating a diverse and inclusive culture, including a Top 10 ranking in "The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies" -- its eighth appearance on the list. Deloitte's commitment to diversity is also noted by its ranking on Fortune Magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" for the 12th consecutive year. Deloitte is also ranked No. 1 on Vault's "Accounting 50 Ranking of Best Firms to Work For," placing in the top 10 in all diversity-related categories. Additionally, Deloitte has earned a 100 percent rating for five consecutive years in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Corporate Equality Index.

Also notable is that Deloitte holds the distinction of being honored twice with the prestigious Catalyst Award, which recognizes company initiatives promoting women advancement. For the sixth year in a row, Deloitte is honored among the top rankings for women and top five "Best Companies for Multicultural Women," by Working Mother magazine. Working Mother also inducted Deloitte into their Hall of Fame after earning a spot on the magazine's "100 Best Companies," for 17 consecutive years.

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SOURCE Deloitte