“A diversified workforce is a prerequisite to success,” says David Enser, Head of Mobility at multinational sports shoes, clothing and accessory giant adidas Group.
1,345 international staff
adidas Group employs some 1,345 international staff around the globe. Delving into this statistic quickly reveals how diversity is a core value that lies at the heart of the organisation.
From 70 different countries
That diversity includes a remarkable spread of nationalities – adidas people hail from nearly 70 different countries. David Enser: “Of our total expat population, 7.9 per cent are Asian outbounds. For us that is a key thing, because we want to see more East-West mobility. Those outbounds originate from countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Tajikistan and Vietnam.”
High number of female expats
Another interesting statistic is the number of female expats. These comprise just over a third. That is a much higher figure than the average percentage of female expats employed by international companies, but Enser concedes: “In terms of gender diversity we still have some way to go.”
Relatively young
With an average age of 37, adidas Group’s expats are relatively young. As Enser explains, that average has dropped slightly over the years: “It has to do with our brand. We have strong employer brand appeal to younger generations.”
Special skills HR
Dealing with such a diversified population calls for special skills from the HR group. Enser: “To understand what’s going on, my team is based in more and more locations around the world. What we require is cross-cultural sensitivity.”
