Former employees say a Philadelphia diversity and tourism executive is a toxic boss

Eight women have signed an open letter accusing their former boss — a prominent Philadelphia diversity and tourism industry executive — of toxic, hypocritical behavior.

The women contend that Greg DeShields, executive director of nonprofit tourism Diversity Matters, was disrespectful and demeaning to the young Black women and women of color he supervised, and that the nonprofit’s CEO and board failed to act when they reported his behavior.

The letter, which six women signed by name, including the former board chair of tourism Diversity Matters, calls out the “dissonance between professed values and actual practices,” saying that the failure to act on DeShields’ behavior “not only undermines the credibility of the industry, but also casts doubt on the sincerity of leaders who purport to prioritize [diversity, equity, and inclusion] as a valuable business strategy.”

DeShields, a former executive director at the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors…