Multiple companies hired or promoted executives into the chief sustainability officer (CSO) role during September 2023. The CSO appointments happened worldwide at companies across multiple vertical markets -- including aerospace, consumer goods, higher education, investment management, machine industry tools, manufacturing, media, retail, software, specialty chemicals, toys, & more.
Here are the CSO names technology partners need to know:
1. John Abubaker: Villanova University named Father John Abubakar as chief sustainability officer. Of the metrics to note: Villanova's sustainability plan -- which stretches from 2020 to to 2030 -- includes roughly 18 goals, according to The Villanovan, a student-run newspaper.Â
2. Chantal Bergeron: Lygos, a developer of sustainable specialty chemicals, named Chantal Bergeron as CSO. She reports to Co-founder and CEO Eric Steen.
3. Maria Blomqvist: Seco Tools, which develops machine industry tools named Head of Sustainability Maria Blomqvist to VP of sustainability and EHS. Blomqvist is now a member of the Seco Management Group. She continues to report to President Stefan Steenstrup.
4. Damien Marchi: Vivendi, the global content, media and communications company, promoted Damien Marchi to executive VP of corporate social responsibility (CSR).
5. Sophia Leonora Mendelsohn: Enterprise software company SAP hired JetBlue and Cognizant veteran Sophia Leonora Mendelsohn as chief sustainability and commercial officer, and co-general manager of SAP Sustainability.
6. Isabel Puig: IKEA Korea has named Isabel Puig as CEO and CSO, effective September 1, 2023.
7. Komi Rajdev: Business conglomerate Kuok Group of Singapore hired Moody's and HSBC veteran Komi Rajdev as general manager, group sustainability.
8. Annette Stube: The Lego Group named Stora Enso veteran Annette Stube as executive vice president and chief sustainability officer (CSO) -- reporting to CEO Niels B Christiansen. Stube will join Lego on January 1, 2024.
9. Nathalie Stubler: Aerospace equipment manufacturer Safran hired Air-France-KLM veteran Nathalie Stubler as chief sustainability officer (CSO) and a member of the group's executive committee. This is a newly created position at company.
10. Dennis van der Putten: Cardano Group named Martine Snoek as group head of sustainability and Dennis van der Putten as chief sustainability officer. Cardano is a privately-owned investment management and advisory business with a focus on risk and sustainability.
11. Miguel Veiga-Pestana: Energy and power generation company Drax has hired Miguel Veiga-Pestana as chief sustainability officer, reporting into Drax Group CEO Will Gardiner.
New Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs): 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.
Technology partners need to extend their sales, marketing, engagement and support strategies to successfully fulfill those CSO needs, Sustainable Tech Partner believes.
