Company leaders throughout the globe are mourning the lack of Ronald C. Parker, the fierce range advocate who carved pathways for Black executives, amongst others, to ascend to the very best ranges. Resulting from his management prowess, he rose to Senior Vice President of Human Sources, Labor Relations, and International Range & Inclusion at PepsiCo. All through a lot of that interval, he served as an indefatigable, unwavering champion for advancing various executives and selling efforts to make sure alternatives had been obtainable for all. After he retired from PepsiCo in 2010, he continued his mission, taking the helm of the Government Management Council (ELC), the pre-eminent group of Black world executives, after which served as president and CEO of the Nationwide Affiliation of Securities Professionals (NASP), the premier group targeted on entry and expertise growth for Blacks, minorities and girls inside the monetary providers sector. Actually, his dedication to advocacy and repair, earned him recognition because the 2024 BLACK ENTERPRISE Lifetime Range Crusader Award.
His sudden dying on the age of 70 was introduced Feb. twenty second. Maurice Cox, his shut good friend for greater than 4 many years and the retired Vice President for Range & Inclusion Growth for PepsiCo, mentioned Parker’s passing was “a shock to all of us…completely sudden.”
Based on TCU Journal, Parker was raised in Brenham, Texas, a city of 18,000 between Austin and Houston, the place his household raised cattle in addition to planted cotton and corn. He began faculty throughout an period of segregation however later emerged as a scholar chief with the combination at Brenham Excessive College, serving as captain of his highschool soccer group, a member of the basketball group and sophistication president throughout his senior 12 months. After a stint at Blinn School, additionally based mostly in Brenham, he transferred to Texas Christian College on a soccer scholarship. After incomes a level in political science, Parker was drafted by the Chicago Bears. A knee harm throughout his rookie season sidelined his professional soccer profession. Compelled to go away the gridiron, he determined to show his focus to enterprise.
Throughout his tenure at PepsiCo, the then-$60 billion tender drink and snack meals producer, he would chair the International Range and Inclusion Council of the then-$60 billion tender drink and snack meals producer. In that function, he formed the strategic plans for company range and inclusion efforts, together with companywide objective setting, engagement of worker useful resource teams, and growth of exterior partnerships. He was identified all through his skilled profession for equity and placing folks first — even when he led greater than 30 labor contract negotiations throughout his tenure.
Cox, who labored carefully with Parker for 43 years, mentioned, “I can’t overstate the worth of getting a real visionary as a colleague and good friend,” he maintained. “We labored collectively as a group and fought many battles. What we realized from one another is that you’re solely pretty much as good because the credit that you’ve.” Being attentive to that philosophy, Cox asserted that Parker’s strategy was pushed by two crucial elements: functionality and accountability. “it allowed us to have a seat on the desk and serve in an outsized function.
Steve Williams, CEO, PepsiCo North America, said, “Ron devoted practically 30 years to PepsiCo…All through his profession, he held a number of management roles throughout the corporate, shaping our folks technique and fostering a tradition of development and inclusion. A people-first chief, he was deeply dedicated to mentorship, management growth, and creating alternatives for others — values that proceed to affect our group.
“Past PepsiCo, Ron remained a tireless advocate for fairness and management. He was a founding member of PepsiCo’s partnership with The Government Management Council (ELC) and later served as its President and CEO, working to raise Black executives in company America. He was additionally a devoted chief at Texas Christian College (TCU), his alma mater, serving on the Board of Trustees and enjoying a key function in shaping the college’s future, amongst different management roles.”
When he retired from PepsiCo, Parker would broaden his affect via ELC, the place he drove efforts to construct the ranks of Black C-Suite executives and company board members.
He additionally made important contributions as a member of the Affiliation of Governing Boards of Universities and Schools, the Range & Inclusion Advisory Board of Procter & Gamble and the Howard College College of Enterprise Board of Guests.
He’s survived by his spouse, Paula and three youngsters.
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