Multiple companies hired or promoted executives into the chief sustainability officer (CSO) role during December 2023. The CSO appointments happened worldwide at companies across multiple vertical markets -- including appliances, automobiles, aviation, energy logistics and retail.
Here are the CSO names that technology partners need to know:
1. Elena Breda: Electrolux Group promoted Elena Breda to chief technology and sustainability officer, reporting to Group President & CEO Jonas Samuelson. Breda also a member of Group Management. Brenda succeeds Vanessa Butani, who is joining Volvo Cars (see below).
2. Vanessa Butani: Volvo Cars is hiring Electrolux veteran Vanessa Butani to succeed Anders Kärrberg as head of global sustainability in April 2024.  Kärrberg plans to retire at that time.
3. Alex Holt: Woolworths Group veteran Alex Holt will join Ahold Delhaize as chief sustainability officer (CSO) in June 2024.
4. Sybil Montegut: Cleco Corporate Holdings LLC, an energy company, has erased the line between IT (information technology) and sustainability -- naming Sybil Montegut as chief administrative & sustainability officer, with responsibility for IT as well.
5. Brian Moran: Boeing named Brian Moran to succeed Chris Raymond as chief sustainability officer (CSO), effective January 2024. Raymond will shift to president and CEO of Boeing Global Services (BGS), the aerospace company said.
6. Greer Woodruff: At J.B. Hunt Transport Services, company veteran Greer Woodruff, executive VP of safety, sustainability and maintenance, is taking on sustainability responsibilities in 2024.
New Chief Sustainability Officers: Why Technology Partners Should Care
By 2027, 25% of Global 2000 companies will have assigned a CSO responsible for meeting their organization’s ESG goals and making ESG-related IT purchasing decisions, according to IDC.
Technology partners need to extend their sales, marketing, engagement and support strategies to successfully fulfill those CSO needs, Sustainable Tech Partner believes.
Related: Search our global database of chief sustainability officers.