Bed Bath & Beyond announces Chief Diversity Officer hire
Bed Bath & Beyond has announced the hiring of a Chief Diversity Officer who will be in charge of the home merchandise chain’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) strategy.
Nicole Cokley Dunlap is joining the leadership team in September, bringing over 25 years of experience to the company. She has worked with other retail giants including Macy’s and Bloomingdales. Cokley Dunlap will oversee the strategy and execution of DE&I strategies from Bed Bath & Beyond’s “environmental, social, & governance” (ESG) plan. Cokley Dunlap will join a growing company, as Bed Bath & Beyond has launched new store brands in recent months, along with partnering with DoorDash for a same-day delivery service.
“As a values-driven company, I am excited to be a part of Bed Bath and Beyond's transformation to advance the DE&I goals,” said Cokley Dunlap. “ With an emphasis on associates, customers and communities, I look forward to working across the organization to optimize DE&I initiatives to drive innovation and business results.”
Cokley Dunlap was as Bloomingdale’s Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion before joining Macy’s in 2019, serving in a similar leadership role.
As part of its ESG strategy, Bed Bath & Beyond has made a commitment to become a top 10 retail employer by 2030 by creating an equitable, inclusive work environment where all associates feel at home and can thrive.
The company has set diversity, equity, and inclusion goals to reach at least 50% women representation and at least 25% racial and/or ethnic diversity at all levels by this time. Cokley Dunlap will oversee the strategy and execution of these goals as well as partner across the enterprise to build stronger relationships with customer communities and diverse business vendors.
“Nicole is a consummate leader with tremendous relationships and expertise in DE&I and will help us deliver change that is needed within our company and the communities we serve,” said Lynda Markoe, Chief People & Culture Officer at Bed Bath & Beyond. “Building our community, both inside and outside the company, is of paramount importance as we execute against Bed Bath & Beyond’s transformation plans. One of our five key practices in our strategic transformation framework is championing diversity and community, and we are pleased to appoint a Chief Diversity Officer as talented and proven as Nicole.”