people on the move
Renee Branch
Debbie Holcombe
Clairesse Jackson
Howard Ross
Ronald Meraz
RONALD MERAZ has
been named head of
Merrill Lynch & Co.’s
office of diversity for
global wealth management. Prior to this
appointment, Meraz was
head of the New York
International Complex,
which includes five
offices in New York,
California and Israel. As
the managing director for
this complex, Meraz
oversaw 122 financial
advisers covering more
than 48 countries. He
joined Merrill Lynch in
1991 as a financial
adviser. He was named
sales manager in 1998
and has held a number
of senior-management
positions in the last 10
years. Merrill Lynch is
one of DiversityInc’s 25
Noteworthy Companies
in 2007.
ING named DEBBIE
HOLCOMBE head of
U.S. work-force diversity.
Holcombe will be
responsible for advancing
the company’s diversity
initiatives, including
talent recruitment,
retention and
development. Holcombe
will also serve as the U.S.
representative on ING’s
global-diversity council.
Holcombe previously
served as the company’s
business line brand
manager, responsible
for brand standards and
employee engagement.
Other positions she has
held within ING include
chief administrative
officer for retail planning
and finance management,
head of Annuity New
Business, and vice
president of the Annuity
Call Center.
RENEE BRANCH has
joined The Council on
Foundations as director
of diversity and inclusive
practices. Branch will
work with philanthropic
leaders and organizations
to advance diversity
programs and awareness.
She will also address
diversity needs. Branch
brings 15 years of
senior-level experience
in management, public
administration, and
development. Previously,
she worked with The
Council from Washington
State University in
Vancouver, where she
served as the diversity
faculty fellow and as an
adjunct professor. The
Council on Foundations
is a Washington,
D.C.–based nonprofit
membership association
of more than 2,000 grant-making foundations and
corporations.
HOWARD ROSS has
been named the fourth
professor of Diversity
in Residence at the
Johnnetta B. Cole Global
Diversity & Inclusion
Institute for the 2007–
2008 academic year
at Bennett College for
Women. Ross will present
a seminar, “The Shifting
Paradigm of Diversity,”
to Bennett students
during the fall and spring
semesters. Ross is the
founder and president
of Cook Ross, one of
the nation’s leading
diversity-training and
consulting companies.
He is a nationally
recognized expert on
diversity, leadership
and organizational
change. He received his
undergraduate degree
from the University of
Maryland. Luke Visconti,
partner and cofounder
of DiversityInc, is on
the boards of trustees
of Bennett College and
the Johnnetta B. Cole
Global Diversity &
Inclusion Institute.
NCR Corp. recently
announced the
promotion of CLAIRESSE
JACKSON to chief
diversity officer. Jackson’s
responsibilities will
include the design and
development of a global
diversity strategy that
aligns and supports NCR’s
business strategy. Among
other responsibilities,
Jackson will also
continue to manage
NCR’s supplier-diversity
program. Jackson brings
more than 20 years of
NCR experience from a
wide range of disciplines,
including serving as
NCR’s expert on supplier
diversity. She holds a
bachelor’s degree from
Wright State University
and a master’s degree
from the University of
Maryland.
