To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8th March, the ‘Women With Drive’ (WWD) network – originally formed in the UK - extended its invitation to team members across Cox Automotive Europe, Cox Automotive Canada and Cox Automotive Brazil for the very first time!

The event had a true international flavour, with over 400 people joining in from across Cox Automotive International, as well as the wider automotive industry. The event also welcomed guest speaker Janet Barnard, EVP & Chief People Officer, Cox Automotive Inc and Maria Soklis, President, Cox Automotive Canada & Brazil, who discussed their gender equality priorities within the wider organisation.

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day was #ChooseToChallenge, and members of the WWD network shared their own pledges on how they will champion gender diversity in 2021.

Gender diversity is a key priority for Cox Automotive, as Liam Quegan, Managing Director of Manheim Auction Services & NextGear Capital in Cox Automotive Europe, and Board Sponsor of the WWD network explains:

Movin’ March launched on 1st March across Cox Automotive International, and it’s been fantastic to see so many team members get behind the campaign and give it a go!

If you’ve missed it… Movin’ March is our international push to improve our mental health by getting physical. It’s not about running a marathon or clocking up thousands of steps…. It’s simply about changing your mindset to just get moving – for as long as you can, as often as you can.

After taking time to move, even just for 20 minutes in a day, your body releases endorphins that make you happier, less stressed, more energised and more optimistic. And this can only have a positive impact on your work-life too!

We want to hear your Movin’ March progress and stories! To help motivate others, email your photos, videos and stories to the International Communications team on ic@coxauto.co.uk.

“International Women’s Day is an important event in the calendar. Achieving gender equality is critical and evidence is beginning to emerge that COVID has had a detrimental impact on the global progress towards a more equal society. Proportionally, early data suggests women are more likely to have their employment impacted, either because of exposure to industries more affected by the pandemic, or because women are more likely to shoulder the burden for unpaid care.

“The need for us as a network to continue to champion gender diversity remains as present and urgent as ever.”

WE SPEAK TO THREE INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN FROM ACROSS COX AUTOMOTIVE INTERNATIONAL TO FIND OUT WHAT CHALLENGES THEY’VE FACED IN THEIR CAREER, THEIR ASPIRATIONS FOR THE FUTURE GENERATION AND THEIR OWN #CHOOSETOCHALLENGE PLEDGES.