Also:

• No. 8 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Blacks

This year for Cox was marked by change in its diversity leadership, with the promotion of Rhonda Taylor to executive vice president and chief people officer. Long-time diversity champion Mae Douglas, who retired at the end of 2011, assisted with the transition. Taylor reports directly to Cox President Pat Esser, who personally signs off on diversity metrics and chairs the executive diversity council.

Cox’s key strength is its consistency in each of the four areas measured in the survey. The mentoring program is available across the organization, with cultural-competency training for mentors and follow-up. Mentoring pairs are evaluated every six months. The resource groups are used for recruiting, on-boarding, talent development and to assist with mentoring, marketing and diversity training. Cox has added two industry-focused groups: The Betsy Magness Leadership Institute and NAMIC (National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications) Alumni Groups are focused on increasing visibility of past participants to senior leadership, maximizing engagement and allowing members to “give back—leaders growing leaders.”

Cox reports that 48 percent of its philanthropic spend is to multicultural nonprofits, and a third of its senior leadership has positions on multicultural boards. Cox directs more than 17 percent of its Tier I (direct contractor) spend to minority- and women-owned businesses.

U.S. Headquarters: Atlanta

U.S. Employees: 20,419

Last Year’s DiversityInc Top 50 Ranking: No. 20