Emerson, a global automation technology and engineering company, has announced the appointment of Akberet Boykin Farr as the new vice president of diversity and social responsibility, effective December 1.

 

Farr, who has managed the company’s internal diversity and inclusion programs since 2017, will continue to oversee the D&I function. 

 

In her new role, she will also manage the Emerson Charitable Trust, co-ordinate the company’s corporate social responsibility reporting and serve as community liaison in St. Louis, the global headquarters of the Fortune 200 company. 

 

She will take over CSR duties from Dave Rabe, who is retiring in December after 36 years with Emerson, most recently serving as vice president of corporate social responsibility the past four years.

 

Lauding the appointment, Chairman and CEO David N. Farr said: "Akberet is a proven leader and strategist who has been at the forefront of our D&I initiatives and has contributed to the shaping of our internal and external CSR strategies."

 

"She also knows St. Louis and will be able to build on the strong relationships Dave Rabe has established for Emerson throughout the community," he stated.

 

"Bringing together oversight of our D&I and social responsibility strategies and initiatives is a logical evolution that will further align these efforts with our values and drive continued progress for the benefit of all our stakeholders," he added.

 

Farr joined Emerson in 1998 as an employee relations specialist and in 2004 was promoted to human resources director of its motor technologies business. 

 

After Emerson sold this business to Nidec Motor Corporation, she joined Nidec in 2010 to serve as its local vice president of human resources. In 2014, she returned to Emerson as a director of corporate human resources and three year later the company promoted her to vice president of diversity and inclusion.

 

On her new role, Farr said: "These are challenging times for communities and businesses of all sizes. We at Emerson are committed to continue putting our charitable funding to work to help address critical needs and underserved populations in the communities where we operate."

 

Boykin Farr attended Saint Louis University where she completed her undergraduate and graduate studies, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in management and industrial relations, an MBA in human resource management, and a doctorate in organizational theory and public policy studies. 

 

She currently serves on the local boards of directors for the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and City Academy.-TradeArabia News Service