A consultant hired by Turner Broadcasting System recommended candidates for hiring and promotion based on a concept called “cultural DNA” driven in part by the consulting firm founder’s bias against Latin Americans, according to a lawsuit filed in Atlanta federal court by a former Turner executive.
Gretchen Colon, a Latin American U.S. citizen born in Puerto Rico, who until February was Turner’s executive vice president of Latin American sales—alleges in her complaint that Turner consultant Gurnek Bains maintained databases of personal assessments he has made, which he drew upon in evaluating candidates for corporate posts. To the extent that Bains’ assessments are based on ethnicity and cultural stereotypes, they violate federal civil rights laws, Colon’s suit contends.
