Azuree Montoute-Lewis

This is our inaugural list of Top DEI Leaders. This prestigious list recognizes the outstanding individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and commitment to driving diversity, equity, and inclusion within their respective industries.

Azurée is an accomplished human resources executive with demonstrated expertise in talent acquisition and management, learning and development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has  dedicated her career to creating high-performing, innovative and psychologically safe work environments with equal opportunities for all. She currently serves as Hill + Knowlton’s Global Chief  People Officer where she draws on almost two decades of experience in succession planning, talent management, change management, organizational and performance management, learning and development, and total rewards.

Widely regarded as a talent and diversity & inclusion subject matter expert, Azurée often presents at conferences and events on inclusion-related topics. As Global Director of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion for Fitch Group, she designed and implemented the organization’s first diversity and inclusion strategy which included the ForwardPath Women’s Leadership Development Program and the “All of Us” global inclusion training module. Azurée spent over nine years as a Vice President in Citigroup’s Global  Diversity and Talent Management department where she led teams responsible for succession planning, talent reviews, executive assessments, coaching/development, employee networking and flexible work initiatives. Azurée’s resume also includes positions within the marketing departments of  Dun & Bradstreet and J.P. Morgan Chase.  

Azurée earned her BA in Political Science, Sociology, and Physics from the University of Richmond as a  part of the Cigna Honors Program. She holds an MBA in Marketing, Management, and Leadership from the Stern School of Business and a Masters in Organizational Development and Talent Management at  NYU. 

Azurée actively participates in multiple professional organizations that align with her passion for community service and efforts to empower underserved and underrepresented communities. She has  been a member of the New York Chapter of National Coalition of 100 Black Women, National Black  MBA Association, Society of Human Resource Management, National Association of African Americans in Human Resources and Organization Development Network. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa  Alpha Sorority, Incorporated for over twenty years, and is invested in her graduate chapter of Delta  Rho Omega in Brooklyn, NY.