In brief: Legal vet joins Blackstone to lead DE&I

Blackstone has hired former attorney Devin Glenn as a managing director and global head of diversity, equity and inclusion, according to a statement from the New York-based firm.

Glenn left a 15-year career at the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where she held a similar role as an assistant director for DE&I. At Blackstone, Glenn reports to global head of human resources Paige Ross and will work to “integrate DE&I principles” within the firm and throughout its portfolio companies, the statement said.

Glenn will help Blackstone’s efforts in expanding professional recruitment and introducing new programmes to address employee retention. She also will help the firm implement a mandate targeting at least one-third diverse representation for board members of Blackstone portfolio companies.

Blackstone has sought to strengthen its standing on environmental, social and governance issues recently as investors put increasing weight on a manager’s ability to make sustainable and socially responsible investments. In April, Blackstone created and filled five senior positions focused on ESG issues across the US, Europe and Asia. At the same time, the firm lost a senior leader of its ESG team when KKR hired the firm’s former global head of ESG Alison Fenton-Willock.