CT trio cited as tops in diversity

Black Enterprise magazine has cited three Connecticut corporations -- Aetna Inc. in Hartford, Pitney Bowes Inc. in Stamford and Xerox Corp. in Norwalk - among the 40 best companies for diversity.

The magazine said the companies identified in a special report in its July issue demonstrated strength and outperformed their peers in one or more of four key categories: board representation, employee base, senior management, and supplier diversity.

Of the 40 best, both McDonald's Corp. and natural-gas utility WGL Holdings Inc. met Black Enterprise's criteria in all four categories.

Pitney Bowes hit the mark in three of the four areas. Others were: AFLAC Inc., The Coca-Cola Co., Fannie Mae, MGM Mirage, Pepco Holdings Inc., PG&E Corp., Sodexo Inc., and TIAA-CREF.

Xerox recently introduced an African-American woman as its next CEO, a first for a Fortune 500 company. 

Making their first appearance on this list are Freddie Mac and Northern Trust Corp.