adidas' HR director quits after allegations of racism

adidas global HR director Karen Parkin has decided to resign after a group of company employees asked the board to launch an internal investigation into racial discrimination. The affair began last year when Parkin, who has worked for adidas for 23 years, called the discussions about racism a mere "noise" that was only spoken of in the United States, adding that the company had no problem with it. An investigation by The New York Times also found that, in the brand's North American headquarters, only 5% of adidas employees identified themselves as members of the black community and claimed to be professionally marginalized – issues that Parkin had downplayed. The former HR director of the brand said:

«It has become clear to me that to unify the organization it would be better for me to retire and pave the way for change».

Parkin's exit has not been without controversy, according to Aaron Ture, project manager of fashion collaborations for adidas. The email with which the woman discharged did not mention an apology ("I recognize that the focus on me has become an hindrance, inhibiting the company from moving forward," Parkin wrote) but seemed to want to deflect the blame on those who had complained about her rather than take it on. The CEO of adidas himself, Kasper Rorsted, will direct the interim HR while waiting for a new figure for the role. 

In the meantime, the brand has promised to donate 20 million dollars to initiatives in favor of the black community (which are expected to become 120 million by 2025), declared the establishment of a diversity committee, promised that the Juneteenth will be a paid holiday and has pledged to hire employees of different ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations for 50% of the positions currently open in the company , as well as having 20% black employees in corporate roles and 12% in leadership roles.