Sodexo appoints permanent head of inclusion

Foodservice firm Sodexo UK & Ireland has appointed Raj Jones its permanent head of diversity and inclusion.

Jones started her career with Sodexo in 2007, taking on a role in learning and development for the justice part of the business before moving to a secondment with the central diversity and inclusion team. After five years, she took up a D&I role at London’s South Bank University before returning to Sodexo a year later.

In 2019, she was promoted to diversity and inclusion manager and has led the function since spring 2020 on an interim basis.

Jones said: “I am really pleased to be appointed Sodexo UK and Ireland’s permanent head of diversity and inclusion, having led the function on an interim basis since last year.

“Sodexo is an employer that really sees the value of inclusion in the workplace and has a strong desire, and commitment, to achieving sustainable positive culture change.”

Sarah Perry, Sodexo’s HR director UK & Ireland, said: “Raj is an experienced, passionate, and skilled D&I practitioner. She works closely with our global colleagues and is a member of the global cultures and origins, generations and pride workstreams.

“She is a strong advocate for grassroots involvement with a firm belief there is more that unites people than divides. I look forward to working with Raj and her team in supporting the agenda for D&I and wish her every success in this next step of her Sodexo journey.”

Sodexo employs more than 42,000 people at over 1,700 locations in the corporate, energy and resources, healthcare, education, leisure, justice and defence sectors. Services range from catering, cleaning, reception to asset management, security, laboratory and grounds maintenance services, enabling clients to focus on their core business.