Volvo Cars Head of Global Sustainability: Vanessa Butani Succeeding Anders Kärrberg

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.

Here are five things to know about Butani's experience and expertise, and Volvo Cars' sustainability strategy.

1. Business Scope and Scale: Volvo, founded in 1927, is based in Gothenburg, Sweden. As of December 2022, the company had 43,200 employees. Revenue wasS EK 330.1 billion in 2022, while global unit sales were 615,121 that fiscal year. 

2. Sustainability Goals: Volvo is striving to be climate-neutral by 2040, and wants to sell only electric cars by 2030.

3. Vanessa Butani's Experience: Butani had been VP of group sustainability at Electrolux since May 2021. She also has technology experience, having served as Electrolux director of connectivity strategy and ecosystems -- which involved IoT (Internet of Things) connected appliances and associated partnerships. That technology experience should be an asset at Volvo, which is striving to transform from a car maker to a sustainable mobility specialist.

Butani will be based at Volvo's headquarters, reporting directly to CEO Jim Rowan and joining the Group Management Team (GMT).  

4. Executive Perspectives: In a prepared statement, Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan said: “We’re excited to have Vanessa joining our company. Her leadership and experience in this field will play a critical role in the continued execution of our ambitious sustainability strategy across our entire organisation, and ensuring that we maintain a leading voice in sustainable mobility. I’d also like to thank Anders for his great contribution to Volvo Cars’ success and wish him well in his retirement.” 

Added Butani: “I have been watching Volvo Cars’ approach to sustainability with admiration,. Now I have a fantastic opportunity to join the team and drive the company towards its sustainability ambitions, integrating sustainability as a competitive edge in every aspect of the value chain. Volvo Cars is transforming fast to answer the call for sustainable actions and I look forward to being part of making a positive change for people and society.” 

5. Exiting Sustainability Officer: Volvo Cars also praised Kärrberg ahead of his retirement, noting that he has "led the establishment of our company’s global sustainability framework, embedding an ambitious approach to sustainable mobility into the fabric of our company’s future. 

Volvo Cars Sustainability Executive: 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.