LGBTQ Chief Executive Officers of Business Enterprises
History was made in 2014 when Tim Cook, the Chief Executive Officer of Apple Inc, publicly announced that he was gay. He is the first CEO of a Fortune 500 company to openly declare himself a member of the LGBTQ community. Tim Cook's venerable global profile ensured that his announcement became news around the world. This represented a major step forward in the both the visibility of the LGBTQ community and its fight for equality. His announcement filled a gap that existed in the advancement of LGBTQ rights around the world - the lack of an active LGBTQ business leader.
It is important to have prominent LGBTQ individuals in the business community. These individuals represent the public face of their corporations. As such, the CEOs represent the company's employees, many of whom also identify as LGBTQ - having an out CEO shows their inclusion in the organization. It also shows that one's sexual preference is not a barrier to either promotion or the ability to successfully manage a business enterprise. The confidence for a CEO to be comfortable with his/her sexual preference reveals the honesty of the individual, thereby reflecting the values inherent in the company's culture. Public disclosure shows leadership by example, an important trait in motivating others within a company.
The presence of LGBTQ Chief Executive Officers in business enterprises helps to advance the efforts for global human rights. These business enterprises operate differently from government organizations and non-profits through extensive networks of suppliers and customers. By having visible LGBTQ leadership in the organization they are sending a message to those partners that being a member of a minority group does not impair the economic functioning of the relationship that has been established.
There are many more current and past Chief Executive Officers of business companies around the world who identify as LGBTQ. These leaders represent industries such as media, technology, fashion, communications, sports, biotechnology, consulting, publishing,, finance, hospitality, manufacturing, and more. The CEOs come from Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Spain, France, Netherlands, and the United States.
- Jean-Jacques Aillagon, France - TV5Monde
- Zel Anders, United States - Tomboy Tailors
- Christopher Bailey, Great Britain - Burberry Group
- Brian Bickell, Great Britain - Shaftesbury PLC
- Sue Black, United States - Milwaukee Wave
- Mark S. Bonham, Canada - BPI Financial Corporation, Strategic Value Corporation
- Harlan Bratcher, United States - Reed Krakoff, A/X Armani Exchange
- Michelle Brooke-Marciniak, United States - SHEEX, Inc.
- Lord John Browne, Great Britain - British Petroleum
- Trevor Burgess, United States - C1 Bank
- Stephen Clarke, Great Britain - WH Smith
- David Clemmer, Canada - Judy Inc.
- Demion Clinco, United States - Frontier Consulting Group, Inc.
- Jean-Paul Cluzel, France, Radio France Internationale, Radio France
- Paul Colichman, United States - Here! Media
- Chip Conley, United States - Joe de Vivre Hospitality
- Heather Conway, Canada - Edelman Canada
- Tim Cook, United States - Apple Inc.
- Barry Diller, United States - IAC/Interactive Corp, Expedia Inc.
- Jesus Encinar, Spain - Idealista.com
- Amy Errett, United States - Madison Reed, Olivia
- Paul Flowers, Great Britain - CoOp Bank
- Sara Geater, Great Britain - FreemantleMedia
- Tim Gill, United States - Quark; Gill Action Fund
- Robert Greenblatt, United States - NBC Entertainment
- Jason Grenfell-Gardner, United States - IGI Laboratories
- Robert Hanson, United States - John Hardy Inc, American Eagle Outfitters
- Tim Hely Hutchinson, Great Britain - Hachette Publishing
- Mark Johnston, Canada - Fusion Television
- Alan Joyce, Ireland - Quantas Airways
- Sander van 't Noordende, Netherlands - Accenture
- Kevin McClatchy, United States - Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club
- Henry Munoz III, United States - Munoz & Company
- Ken Popert, Canada - Pink Triangle Press
- Donald Potard, France - Jean-Paul Gaultier, Marchpole Holdings
- Jennifer Pritzker, United States - Tawani Enterprises
- Paul Reed, Great Britain - BP IST
- Rich Ross, United States - Discover Channel, Shine America, Walt Disney Studios
- Martine Rothblatt, United States - United Therapeutics
- Jeffrey Schwarz, United States - Automat Pictures
- Joel Simkhai, United States - Grindr
- Peter Sisson, United States - Line2
- Megan Smith, United States - PlanetOut
- Theresa Sparks, United States - Good Vibrations
- Gary Stolkin, Great Britain - The Talent Business
- Robert Taylor, Great Britain - Kleinwort Benson Private Banking
- Peter Thiel, United States - PayPal
- Jaime Watt, Canada - Navigator Ltd.
- Sarah Weir, Great Britain - Aldsgate Group
- Rick Welts, United States - Phoenix Suns Basketball Team
- Dave Wilkin, Canada - Redwood Strategic
