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Gulfstream Hires Haliburton Veteran Smitha Hariharan as Sustainability Chief: 6 Things to Know

July 24, 2024 by Joe Panettieri

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., the business jet manufacturer and service provider, has hired Halliburton Energy Services veteran Smitha Hariharan as VP and chief sustainability officer (CSO).

Here are six things to know about Gulfstream's sustainability strategy, and Hariharan's experience and expertise.

1. Business Background: Gulfstream, founded in 1958, is based in Savannah, Georgia. The company, owned by General Dynamics, designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and services business jet aircraft. Roughly 3,000 Gulfstream aircraft are in service worldwide. Gulfstream has roughly 19,000 emplouees worldwide.

2. Aerospace - Carbon Reduction Concerns: Critics are calling on the aviation industry to accelerate their net zero efforts. Among the areas of concern: The International Council on Clean Transportation predicts the aviation industry will fall far short of its pledge to generate net zero carbon emissions by 2050, according to The Wall Street Journal.

3. Gulfstream Sustainability Strategy: Gulfstream parent General Dynamics is seeking to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon dioxide emissions by 40% by 2034, relative to 2019. Gulfstream has vowed to align with that goal.

Areas of progress, according to Gulfstream, include:

  • The company's next-generation fleet of aircraft offers fuel-efficiency gains as much as 33% over predecessor models.
  • The company has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 18% since 2014 while expanding facilities by 30%.
  • In November 2023, Gulfstream completed the world’s first trans-Atlantic flight on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in both engines. 
  • The company in 2024 signed an agreement as part of the International Aerospace Environmental Group (IAEG). The result: As part of a voluntary effort, Gulfstream suppliers will share their sustainability strategy to determine ESG risk and identify any opportunities to improve overall sustainability performance.

4. Executive Experience: Hariharan previously was global head of sustainability for Halliburton Energy Services, where she developed Halliburton’s global short and long-term sustainability strategy, Gulfstream said. In that Halliburton role, Hariharan also oversaw governance, internal and external benchmark data, as well as engagements with internal and external stakeholders.

Mark-Burns
Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Aerospace

5. Executive Perspectives: In a prepared statement, Gulfstream President Mark Burns said: “We are incredibly pleased to welcome Smitha to Gulfstream to oversee our sustainability strategy and ensure we continue to deliver against our goals. Sustainability continues to be a major focus for our company and the business aviation industry... Smitha’s expertise will help us elevate our strengths while driving our strategy forward at an advanced pace. We look forward to the insights and knowledge she will bring as we continue to lead the industry in our efforts.”

Concluded Burns: “Gulfstream is innovating for a sustainable future. We are committed to doing our part in advancing the industry forward to achieve our shared sustainability goals.” 

6. Aerospace Sustainability Executives: Meanwhile, multiple aerospace companies have named chief sustainability officers and leaders since 2023. Example moves include:

  1. Airlines for America (A4A): Hired Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) veteran Kevin Welsh as VP of environment and chief sustainability officer (CSO).
  2. Atlas Air Inc.: The subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide promoted Richard Broekman to executive VP, chief commercial officer and head of sustainability.
  3. Boeing: Named Jim Hileman as VP of the Sustainability & Future Mobility organization (S&FM). That's not to be confused with Boeing Chief Sustainability Officer Christopher Raymond.
  4. Delta Air Lines: Named Amelia DeLuca as chief sustainability officer, effective August 1, 2023. DeLuca succeeded Pam Fletcher, who stepped down from the role.
  5. Tongyu Xu joined FACC AG as CSO on May 15, the lightweight aerospace company announced.
  6. Philippine Airlines (PAL): Hired climate scientist Glenn S. Banaguas as chief resiliency and sustainability officer.
  7. Safran: The aerospace equipment manufacturer hired Air-France-KLM veteran Nathalie Stubler as chief sustainability officer (CSO) and a member of the group's executive committee. 

Aerospace Chief Sustainability Officers: Why Technology Partners Should Care

By 2027, 25% of Global 2000 companies will have assigned a chief sustainability officer (CSO) responsible for meeting their organization’s ESG goals and making ESG-related IT purchasing decisions, according to IDC.

The bottom line: Technology partners need to extend their sales, marketing, engagement and support strategies to successfully fulfill those CSO customer needs, Sustainable Tech Partner believes.

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