ArvinMeritor has become the first company from the automotive manufacturing industry sector to be classified as a “Most Valuable Player,” according to the 2007 Women’s Leadership Index released Monday, Oct. 8. To achieve elite MVP status, ArvinMeritor was recognized in the following categories for Fortune 500 companies:
“ArvinMeritor has a rich culture of promoting women to leadership positions, because of the valuable contributions they provide throughout the company from the board room to the plant floor,” says Chip McClure, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Troy, Mich.-based ArvinMeritor. “We continue to give diversity candidates greater responsibility so they can move through the organization. Women are important to our success – diverse talent leads to diverse ideas and better business results.”
The annual study, first published in 2003 and conducted by the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, was commissioned by the Inforum Center for Leadership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for women to advance their careers. The study is a benchmark for Michigan companies to measure their female corporate resources at the executive level and in the board room.
ArvinMeritor was named a MVP for its high scores in the comprehensive analysis that required WLI points of 11 or more to make the top grade. The index provides a snapshot of the combined presence and progress of women in Michigan’s largest companies.
Rhonda L. Brooks and Victoria B. Jackson both have been directors since July 2000 and served as directors of Meritor from July 1999 until the merger. They comprise 20 percent of the ArvinMeritor board seats. McClure says that they are not only on the board, but also serve on key committees vital to the company’s success.
Brooks is the chairman of the Environmental and Social Responsibility Committee and is a member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Jackson is a member of the Audit Committee and the Environmental and Social Responsibility Committee.
