By Colin Kellaher 



  HP Inc. on Wednesday said it aims to double the number of black and African-American executives inside the company by 2025 as part of commitments to drive greater diversity and inclusion. 


  The Palo Alto, Calif., personal-computer maker said it has made significant strides in many areas of diversity, but that the number of African-American employees "is below where it needs to be." 


  HP said 63% of its U.S. hires last year were from underrepresented groups, including women, U.S. ethnicities, veterans and persons with disabilities, up from 57% in 2018. The company said 40% of new hires in the U.S. last year were minorities, up from 32% in 2018. 


  "Recent events have laid bare the systemic racism and deep inequalities that remain a stain on society, and it's imperative for all companies to act with urgency on all fronts," said Enrique Lores, HP president and chief executive. 


  HP noted that its 12-member board includes five women and seven minorities, making it the most diverse of any U.S. technology company. 


  Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com