News Article

Coca-Cola Selects Former Labor Secretary To Lead Diversity Task Force

The New York Times

Published: May 16, 2001

The Coca-Cola Company and the plaintiffs in a class-action discrimination lawsuit against the company said yesterday that Alexis M. Herman, the former labor secretary, would be the chairwoman of a panel that will oversee the company's diversity efforts.

The seven-member panel, created by the terms of a settlement of the suit, has the power to make binding recommendations about how the company hires, promotes and evaluates employees who are women or minorities. Unless Coke receives a court waiver, it must follow the panel's recommendations.

Ms. Herman's role as chairwoman is important because she will cast the tie-breaking vote in the event that the other six members cannot agree. Three members will be appointed by Coke and three by lawyers for the plaintiffs.

"I see my role as being charged with ensuring compliance with the settlement agreement and providing independent oversight," Ms. Herman said in a telephone interview yesterday. "We will have the opportunity to engage with employees as appropriate, and we will certainly consult with plaintiffs' counsel," she said.

"We will have the opportunity to work with the entire Coke system" to increase diversity. Ms. Herman is widely regarded as someone who can establish consensus among disparate, clashing groups.

"One of the reasons I was attracted to her being in this post is that enforcement actions had a high-water mark under her regime," said Cyrus Mehri, one of the lawyers representing plaintiffs in the suit against Coke. Ms. Herman was the plaintiffs' only choice for the post.