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WBCSD appoints nine additional members to its Executive Committee

Sunny Verghese reappointed as WBCSD Chair for another two-year term and nine additional business leaders nominated to WBCSD’s ExCo.


Lisbon, Portugal – WEBWIRE

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) today announced the re-election of its Chair, Sunny Verghese, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Olam, for another two-year term, as well as the nomination of nine new Executive Committee members:

  • Tatsuya Tanaka, Representative Director and President, Fujitsu  
  • João Castello Branco, Chairman, The Navigator Company
  • Wiebe Drajer, Chairman of the Managing Board, Rabobank
  • Nadir Godrej, Managing Director, Godrej Industries
  • Keryn James, CEO, ERM
  • Jan Jenisch, CEO, Lafarge Holcim
  • Alan Jope, CEO, Unilever
  • Ilham Kadri, CEO, Solvay Group
  • Peter Oosterveer, CEO, Arcadis


In addition, three serving members of the Executive Committee were re-elected for another two-year period:

  • Ana Botín, Executive Chairman, Banco Santander,
  • Takeshi Uchimayada, Chairman of the Board, Toyota
  • Yaofeng Cao, Board Director, Sinopec Corp


The Executive Committee is responsible for supervising the strategy and monitoring the effectiveness of operations, controls and governance of WBCSD. In order to strengthen the diversity of backgrounds and experience represented in WBCSD’s ExCo, the Organization’s charter was updated to allow for up to 22 members to be appointed, up from 18 in the past. The appointment was enacted by a vote from members at the 2019 Annual General Meeting of WBCSD, held today in Lisbon, Portugal. Their term will begin on 1 January 2020 for a duration of two years.

Sunny Verghese, WBCSD Chair and Co-Founder and Group CEO of Olam International Ltd., said: “The science that underlines the need for action towards a sustainable and inclusive future has never been stronger. People are also waking up to the climate emergency. Business needs to take the lead to deliver solutions to help the low-carbon transition and move past commitments to actions and clear targets. The Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and all other international frameworks will not be achieved by any company alone and we, business leaders and our companies, need to work with others to maximize impact at scale.”

“As such, I’m honored to be WBCSD’s Chair for another two-year term and build further the strong voice of leading businesses that the Organization represents. Together, we must apply to deliver a collective, business-led effort to shape how business can help to unlock the transformations that are needed to allow over 9 billion people to live well, within the boundaries of the planet by mid-century.”   

Peter Bakker, WBCSD’s President and CEO said: “We’re delighted to welcome all these new colleagues to the Executive Committee. They bring significant distinguished international business experience to WBCSD’s mission, vision and strategy. Their know-how across various industries will be valuable in helping WBCSD in its key objective of accelerating the transition to a sustainable world and fostering business action to transform economic systems in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.”

The new appointees replace Amanda Sourry, President, North America and Head of Global Customer Development, Unilever; Masami Yamamoto, Chairman, Fujitsu Limited and Bruno Lafont, Lead Independent Director, ArcelorMittal who are stepping down at the end of their mandates.

“We would like to thank Amanda Sourry, Masami Yamamoto and Bruno Lafont for their time, input and leadership over the last two years as they are getting to the end of their mandates in WBCSD’s Executive Committee”, added Bakker.


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