Annysa Polanco Named Director of DEI at PRH, Board-Level Hire to Follow
Annysa Polanco has been promoted to director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Penguin Random House, from associate director, effective immediately. She joined the company three years ago in the newly created role of manager of diversity and inclusion coordination and career outreach, and was promoted to associate director last November. Among Annysa’s efforts at the company include the creation of PRH's Employee Resource Groups, leading planning and rollout on PRH's Cultural Assessment Survey and forming the publisher's D&I strategic plan; helping to develop the Inclusion Partner Program and Uncovering Bias Workshops; and working to overhaul the company's internship program.
In addition, Penguin Random House will create a board-level diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership position, which will report directly to PRH CEO Madeline McIntosh, McIntosh and executive v-p and director of human resources Paige McInerney wrote in a letter to staff. A search has already been begun, and Polanco will report to whoever fills the position.
