Burberry cut its head of diversity role as part of restructuring efforts.

Geoffrey Williams assumed his post at Burberry in April 2022 as the global vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion after leading Dr. Martens’ DEI efforts. Before that, he served as director and global head of diversity and inclusion at Thomson Reuters, having been with the company for more than a decade. According to information shared on his LinkedIn, he increased Burberry’s ethnic minority representation globally, incorporated equity into operations, and delivered its “first-ever inclusion conference.”

In July 2024, he was promoted to global vice president of colleague attraction and inclusion, with a focus on the following pillars: DEI, talent, acquisition, executive search, early careers, and employer branding.

Now, a LinkedIn post from Williams indicates that his role has been eliminated. He says the British luxury fashion brand has “chosen to integrate responsibility for diversity, equity and inclusion across the organisation.”

“This reflects a belief that DEI should be embedded throughout the culture and owned by leaders across the business. The successful transition from a centralised function to a shared responsibility will help ensure long-term sustainability,” Williams, who is also chairperson of the Bernie Grant Arts Centre and co-founder of the social enterprise Rocking Ur Teens, explained. “Several initiatives and external partnerships established during my tenure will continue to shape the brand’s approach going forward.”

He continued, “I took a moment in August/September to recharge with my family, which has reinvigorated my passion for driving impactful change in the workplace. As a dedicated culture builder, I thrive on understanding the unique strengths of individuals and teams, fostering an environment where everyone can excel. I am now seeking my next opportunity and am particularly interested in roles within Talent and Development, Learning and Development, or mid-scale CPO positions.”

Williams’ departure also coincides with Burberry’s plans to cut 1,700 jobs by 2027, 20% of its workforce, The Times reports. As it relates to the overall DEI landscape in fashion, Victoria’s Secret said in March 2025 that it would no longer adhere to its promotion benchmarks for Black workers and would reassess its supplier goal, according to Bloomberg. It also replaced DEI references on its website with “inclusion and belonging.”

Victoria Secret said it will still “ensure our global team is inclusive of a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.”

As AFROTECH™  previously reported, Target has scaled back on its DEI commitments as well, which included ending a program to shelve Black and minority-owned businesses. There was immediate backlash, which resulted in an ongoing consumer boycott. In August 2025, it was announced that Brian Cornell would step down as Target CEO after the retailer’s declining sales.

Across various sectors, including big tech, more companies have adjusted their initiatives or programs, or dismantled roles tied to DEI, including Meta, Apple, Walmart, Disney, and McDonald’s. The Trump administration has amplified the shift in attitudes in DEI, dismantling roles and programs tied to DEI, with conservative groups pressuring companies to follow suit.