How USAA mandated multiculturalism from agency partners

USAA, the financial services company focused on members of the military and their families, increased diversity at its agencies through implementing a clear plan of action.

For years, American marketers have talked about the lack of diversity in advertising.

Roger Adams, who served as CMO of USAA from 2010 until September 2017, then remained at the company in an advisory role until December 31st, 2017, demonstrated that he preferred action to thought. And he found a powerful partner in Renetta McCann, Chief Talent Officer at Leo Burnett/US, an agency owned by Publicis Groupe.

"About a year-and-a-half ago," Adams told 700-plus delegates at the Association of National Advertisers' (ANA) Multicultural Marketing & Diversity Conference, an event held in November 2017, "we needed to make an agency change."...

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