ISS North America, a workplace experience and facility management company and one of the world’s largest private employers with 320,000 employees, has appointed Chely Wright as senior vice president and head of corporate social responsibility and new markets for North America. This strategic hire demonstrates ISS’ continued commitment to both curated, client-centric service offerings in the region and re-defining the impact of workplace experience and facilities management on people, places and communities.
In her new role at ISS, Wright will drive initiatives that strengthen and grow the company’s client relationships and celebrate its internal culture, including a focus on new partnerships and ventures that bring together like-minded corporate partners and community organizations to drive impact locally and globally, the company said.
Already Wright is helping to host an event by Guckenheimer, the ISS corporate dining and food service brand, to raise funds for the Pasadena and Altadena communities and empower food suppliers hard hit by the wildfires.
Most recently, Wright served as chief diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officer at Unispace, a global workplace strategy, design and construction firm, where she spearheaded award-winning DEI initiatives within the organization and empowered clients such as Kenvue, Kraft Heinz, Zoom and Orrick to foster inclusive workplaces through curated partnerships that brought together renowned artists, community organizations and nonprofits.
Prior to her role at Unispace, Wright counseled Procter & Gamble, Morgan Stanley and other global companies on corporate impact, diversity and inclusion, and worked closely with advocacy organizations GLSEN, GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign.
“At ISS, care for our people, clients and communities are at the center of all we do,” Wright shared. “I’m looking forward to building on this people-first approach to establish new corporate and community partnerships that drive impact for the people and places that shape our communities and planet.”
Prior to her corporate career, Wright was named the Academy of Country Music’s Top Female Vocalist in 1994 and went on to celebrate chart-topping radio success and industry recognition. In 2010, she was the first country music artist to identify publicly as LGBTQ+. She founded the LikeMe Organization, a nonprofit supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and served as vice chair of GLSEN, which focuses on safe and inclusive education for LGBTQ+ youth, from 2020 to 2024. At Unispace, she established partnerships with organizations like the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the National Minority Supplier Diversity Council (NMSDC) to enhance supplier diversity.
“We believe that great people can and do make a difference. It is our responsibility — to the planet, our people and the communities we serve — to move with intentionality and care in all we do,” said Steve Quick, CEO of ISS America. “This is exactly how Chely has lived her life and how she’s chosen to share the power of her own personal journey. We are thrilled to have her at the helm of our corporate social responsibility partnerships, positioning ISS and our clients to lead with even greater distinction and impact in North America.”
