NEW YORK — Finn Partners' senior partner, Helen Shelton, has been named the firm’s global chief diversity officer, expanding the work she has done promoting DE&I for the last five years.

In the newly created role, Shelton will oversee Finn’s internal DE&I efforts across its offices in the US, the UK, Asia, Europe and Israel, as well as work with clients on their initiatives to further diversity and inclusion through initiatives using the likes of communications, alliances, recruitment and civil engagement.

Shelton said she believes truly achieving DE&I requires organizations “to be in it for the long haul,” as there is no quick fix to where we’re currently at.

“Everyone needs to acknowledge that work needs to be done,” Shelton said. “To sustain and be effective in the community where you do business, there needs to be an infrastructure in place to deal with this issue and demonstrate a sincere commitment.”

In addition to heading DE&I, Shelton will continue leading Finn’s global multicultural practice. She has a long history working in that arena, having led Ruder Finn’s multicultural practice before joining Finn Partners nine years ago.

“You simply cannot go wrong with an effective DE&I strategy,” Shelton said. “And now more than ever we see that it is necessary.”

Finn Partners is the latest in a string of agencies to create chief diversity officer positions following heightened racial strife last year including Ogilvy, FleishmanHillard, WE, Ketchum, and H+K Strategies.