With thanks to Miriam Heale, Allen & York Recruitment
b>Stefan Crets, former general manager, corporate planning and CSR for Toyota has been appointed executive director of CSR Europe, the European business network for corporate social responsibility with around 70 multinational corporations and 27 national partner organisations as members. The organisation was founded in 1995 by senior European business leaders in response to an appeal by the then European commission president Jacques Delors. Crets had been the CSR leader at Toyota Europe since 2002. Prior to that he was programme adviser at the King Baudouin Foundation, and he started his professional career as a research academic at the University of Antwerp.
Henderson Global Investors has made two new appointments to its sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) team. Bridget Boulle, formerly of PIRC Ltd, joins as an SRI analyst. And Harriet Lamb, executive director of the UK’s Fairtrade Foundation, has been appointed to the SRI advisory committee. The committee is an independent panel designed to oversee the research and engagement activities of the SRI team. Lamb says: “Investors exert considerable influence on listed companies through their investment decision-making. I am looking forward to joining the advisory committee as the SRI team leverages this influence in supporting the efforts of leading companies to deliver sustainable social, environmental and financial returns.”
Zurich-based cocoa and chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut has appointed Jörn Wagenbach as new head of corporate communications and CSR. Wagenbach is joining from logistics company Panalpina, where he has been head of corporate communications since 2008.
John Drexhage of the Canada-based International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has been appointed by the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) as its new director for climate change. Drexhage will be taking up the newly created post in mid-March, following ten years as director of IISD’s climate change and energy programme. ICMM president Anthony Hodge says: “I am thrilled to welcome John to the organisation. His widely acknowledged expertise is precisely what the sector needs to advance constructive thinking on climate change. The fact that we have turned to IISD reflects our respect for them as an organisation.”
Healthcare giant GlaxoSmithKline has hired Jan Vosátka as a CSR specialist. Previously, Vosátka worked in international affairs at the ministry of education, youth and sports in the Czech Republic. David Brady has also joined the GlaxoSmithKline team as environment, health and safety coordinator. Brady was formerly an EHS engineer at Stryker Orthopaedics.
Georgina Stevens has recently left Marks & Spencer, where she headed up the fair partner pillar of Plan A, to set up her own sustainability consultancy, One Pumpkin, which offers a range of sustainability services. Stevens has previously worked on sustainability strategies for the WWF, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays.
Peter J Johnson, a leading expert in third-party forest certification and sustainability, has joined the Sustainable Forestry Initiative as managing director, office of sustainability. Johnson was formerly vice-president of sustainability and climate change at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Adrian Bowles has joined Constellation Research as a vice-president and principal analyst. Bowles will focus on technologies and practices that support sustainable business growth, expanding the company’s coverage to include CSR, clean technologies and sustainability best practices. He previously directed the governance, risk management and compliance roundtable for the Object Management Group, and is founder of the Sustainable Insights Group. Constellation Research is a research analyst and advisory firm that helps clients to navigate emerging and disruptive technologies.
Andy Szyman, head of sustainability at F&C REIT Asset Management, has been appointed co-chair of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative’s Property Working Group. The group aims to promote and encourage responsible property investment by assembling evidence to show how it can protect or enhance financial returns throughout the life-cycle of a building while simultaneously reducing negative environmental and social impacts.
Steve Noakes has been appointed to the board of directors of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Noakes is a leading advocate for sustainable tourism and is founding director of international project management company Pacific Asia Tourism.
The board of directors of SAM, the Zurich-based investment boutique focused exclusively on sustainable investing, is reinforcing its executive management.
Neil Johnson, previously in charge of sales at SAM USA, has been appointed head of global clients and marketing and will join the executive committee. The company’s executive team now consists of Michael Baldinger (CEO), Rainer Baumann (head of portfolio management), Stefan Gordijn (COO), Neil Johnson, Andrew Musters (head of private equity) and Daniel Wild (head of research).
Appointment of the month
Société Générale has appointed Jean-Michel Mépuis as its new group head of sustainable development. Starting in March, Mépuis will be responsible for guiding the financial services group’s corporate social responsibility strategy. Société Générale is aiming to become a benchmark reference in the area of social and environmental responsibility and, as such, Mépuis will be working closely with stakeholders to direct initiatives that form part of the Ambition SG 2015 transformation and development plan. Mépuis was most recently head of strategy and development at Société Générale Securities Services and is a former associate director of CSC.