The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has appointed DNV GL Group President and CEO, Remi Eriksen, to its Executive Committee. “I am proud to join this CEO-led organization of forward-thinking companies, which galvanizes the global business community to create a sustainable future for business, society and the environment,” says Eriksen.
WBCSD’s commitment to driving business solutions for a sustainable world is very much in line with DNV GL’s own purpose of safeguarding life property and the environment. To achieve this goal members work together across sectors, geographies and value chains to explore, develop and scale up business solutions to address the world’s most pressing challenges. DNV GL has been a member of the council since 1998.
The organization has identified six clusters where business can have a significant and measurable impact: Climate & Energy, Ecosystems & Landscape Management, Safe Materials & Products, Social Impact, Sustainable Lifestyles and Water.
WBCSD has now appointment seven new members to its Executive Committee, following their successful election during the organization’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Chennai, India. The new members will each serve on the Executive Committee for a term of two years, from 1 January 2017. They are:
• Remi Eriksen, Group President and CEO, DNV GL Group
• Svein Tore Holsether, President and CEO, Yara
• Andreas Fibig, Chairman and CEO, International Flavors and Fragrances Inc.
• Daniel Pinto, CEO, J.P. Morgan’s Corporate and Investment Bank
• Pravin Rao, Chief Operating Officer and Member of the Board, Infosys
• Magdi Batato, Executive Vice President Operations, Nestlé S.A.
• Harry Brekelmans, Projects and Technology Director, Royal Dutch Shell
Paul Polman, Chairman of the WBCSD and CEO Unilever, said: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome seven new colleagues to the WBCSD Executive Committee. Andreas, Daniel, Harry, Magdi, Pravin, Remi and Svein bring significant distinguished international business experience to the mission, vision and strategy of WBCSD. Collectively they share a strong commitment to sustainability and to the belief that business must work together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world as quickly as possible.”
Peter Bakker, President and CEO of WBCSD said: “I am delighted that our new members have agreed to join the WBCSD Executive Committee. Their extensive cross-sectoral experience will be valuable in helping WBCSD in its key objective of transforming the primary economic systems across Energy, Food & Land, Cities and Mobility, and the finance sector through our pioneering Redefining Value programs. I look forward to working closely with each of them as we take further steps to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world.”
The new appointees join existing Executive Committee members: Paul Polman, (Chairman) CEO at Unilever, Ana Botin, Executive Chairman at Banco Santander, Gavin Patterson, CEO at BT, Bruno Lafont, Co-Chairman at Lafarge-Holcim, José Luciano Penido, Chairman at Fibria, Mr. Masahi Muromachi, President & CEO at Toshiba Corporation, Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board at Toyota Motor Corporation, Mr. Cao Yaofeng, Board Director of Sinopec - Corp Vice President of China Petrochemical Corporation, and Jean Pierre Clamadieu, Chairman of the Executive Committee and CEO at Solvay.