Contact: Madonna Jarrett
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
Director, Global PR & CEO Communications
+1 212 492 3738

Contact: Thierry Rioult
Deloitte France
Director, Communications
+33 1 40 88 2948

Paris, March 16, 2006—As markets and industries around the world face a growing shortage of talented people, business leaders must continue to improve the diversity of their workforces, especially within leadership positions to be sustainable in the long term, William G. Parrett, CEO of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu said today at a business luncheon at the Paris Stock Exchange, where diversity was debated among government and business leaders.

Mr. Parrett acknowledged that strides have been made to include women and minorities within the workforce, including into leadership positions, but the statistics speak for themselves. He said, “We can all do better” and confirmed that the professional services industry is facing talent shortages, and that Deloitte member firms still have much to achieve in encouraging, developing and retaining diverse leaders. To this end, Mr. Parrett recently announced a new Deloitte member firm vision and strategy that aims to not only improve diversity within member firms, but to position them as the first choice of the most talented people.

An important dimension of the new strategic direction is attracting and fostering the development of top female talent through an initiative called "Build Our Next Generation of Talent." Mr. Parrett said, "Deloitte member firms pride themselves on their corporate values, one being strength through cultural diversity, however, a new initiative is being developed to focus member firms on developing women as leaders, creating stronger networks, providing more accommodating career options for women when they require them and fostering the development and deployment of highly sought-after women professionals." 

"As Deloitte member firms mirror the diversity of their clients and customers, they generate an immediate advantage in understanding and meeting their needs.  Profitability depends on managing just those kinds of advantages," said Jean-Paul Picard, CEO of Deloitte France. "I am very proud of Deloitte member firms all over the world that have been recognized in different ways for their commitment to people and diversity. Collectively there is an impressive list of awards including recognition as an employer of choice or a Working Mothers Best Place to Work."

Deloitte France is one of the first 35 companies to support the "Charte de la Diversité" and has the "Label de l’Egalité Professionnelle." Deloitte France has an equal number of men and women, 20 percent of partners are women, and more than forty different nationalities, including 25 in Europe, are represented within the firm. Mr. Picard said, "Deloitte France sets its policies based on what is right, both in terms of what is right for its people and for its business. By providing that leadership we ensure both broader participation in the values we hold dear and a deeper understanding of how to more fully meet our clients' needs."

During his remarks at the luncheon, Mr. Parrett also stressed the critical need for businesses to take steps today to build tomorrow's generation of workers. He said, "A host of global demographic trends—from low birth rates to the graying of the 'Baby Boomer' generation—are contributing to long-term skill shortages that are being experienced by developed and developing nations alike. All industries, including accounting, healthcare, financial services and manufacturing, are tremendously affected."

United Nations data suggests that by 2025, 125 million migrant workers will be required in Western Europe alone to sustain growth. Today in the U.S., some 65,000 business visas are issued annually, but the estimated need is for 200,000.

Talent migration must be facilitated to help ease talent shortages. He said, "Governments and enterprises must work together and look beyond the limited scope of national labor markets and embrace change that allows talented people to move freely across borders. The transatlantic cooperation between Europe and the U.S. provides a good environment to explore new ideas. This might include the global business visa proposed by the U.N. Global Commission on International Migration as well as an agreement on security screening standards."

At the enterprise level, Mr. Parrett suggested some simple steps to facilitate talent movement, including further consideration of the needs of dual-career families. He suggested, "Changing the nature of international assignments, forming alliances with infrastructure companies to facilitate quick settlement and forming 'Opportunity Networks' with other companies to pool available employment opportunities for trailing spouses are just some examples of what businesses can consider."

Mr. Parrett and Mr. Picard joined Azouz Begag, French minister for equal opportunity, HE Craig Stapleton, the U.S. Ambassador for France, Senator Bariza Khiari, Zaïr Kedadouche, senior advisor of President Chirac on cultural diversity, as well as 80 business leaders from U.S. and French companies at a luncheon in Paris to debate ways to enhance diversity.

About Deloitte
Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein, its member firms, and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is an organization of member firms around the world devoted to excellence in providing professional services and advice, focused on client service through a global strategy executed locally in nearly 150 countries. With access to the deep intellectual capital of 120,000 people worldwide, Deloitte delivers services in four professional areas—audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services—and serves more than one-half of the world’s largest companies, as well as large national enterprises, public institutions, locally important clients and successful, fast-growing global growth companies. 

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