CSO moves: Northwest Bank, Hind Management, Mahindra Group and more

Since the start of July, new Chief Sustainability Officers have been appointed at WE Soda, Hind Management, Northwest Bank, Mahindra Group and more.

More and more companies are creating Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) roles to handle their transition to a sustainable business model, and giving this role the authority and budget it needs to achieve substantial change.

Read our exclusive data-based stories on CSO appointment trends:

• Growing professionalisation: 62% of new CSOs come from sustainability background (Q1 2024)
• Increasing influence: 66% of new CSOs report to CEO (Q4 2023)

WE Soda shakes up sustainability governance

This week alone, three companies announced new CSO appointments. Alan Knight has taken on the newly-created position at UK-based soda ash and sodium bicarbonate producer WE Soda, reporting to CEO Alasdair Warren. He has over 30 years of sustainability leadership experience, having held senior roles at Drax Group, ArcelorMittal, Virgin Group, SABMiller and B&Q/Kingfisher.

Sustainability at WE Soda was previously led by Anita Siddle as Global Sustainability Director. She is now part of Knight's team.

Hind Management promotes sustainability leader to CSO

Over in New Zealand, Hind Management, which owns the Sudima Hotels brand, has promoted its Executive Director of Sustainability and Environment Kanika Jhunjhnuwala to Chief Sustainability Officer. She is an experienced hospitality sustainability professional and the founder of the Hotel Industry Sustainability Group.

“I am incredibly proud of the work we do shaping the company to reflect the values and vision of my family as the owners of Hind Management… This would not be possible without the support of everyone in the business, especially the C-suite,” she commented.

Financial sector appointments: Northwest Bank, Lloyds Banking Group

And in the US, Northwest Bank’s Deputy Chief Counsel Brenda Yurick has taken on the additional role of Chief Sustainability Officer. Reporting to CEO Lou Torchio, she will work closely with the executive team, including the Chief Inclusion Officer, to lead the bank’s sustainability initiatives, integrating ESG principles into the core business strategy. 

Earlier this month, Lloyds Bank announced the appointment of Khadija Ali in the newly-created role of Group Director, Sustainability and Responsible Business. Joining from EY where she led the UK Climate Change and Sustainability Services practice, she will report to Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Walton, and lead the UK group’s social sustainability and environmental sustainability teams, essentially driving the delivery of its sustainability goals.

Finally, ING has promoted its Director of Sustainable Finance for the Americas, Cindy Jia, to Head of Sustainable Finance. Based in New York, she will be responsible for advising clients on their sustainability projects and goals in the region.

Tech giants strengthen sustainability leadership

Last week Indian tech conglomerate Mahindra Group announced Ankit Todi as its new Chief Sustainability Officer, replacing veteran Arniban Ghosh, who had been in the role since 2015.

Todi joined the Mahindra Group in 2022 as Sustainability Strategy and Partnerships Lead, driving engagement with global platforms such as the World Economic Forum, United Nations Global Compact, and Sustainable Markets Initiative. He reports to Group Public Affairs Officer Abanti Sankaranarayanan, who commented: “Ankit has driven strong outcomes by integrating business strategy with sustainability initiatives. He has significantly contributed to driving sustainability roadmaps and actions across the Group’s businesses, reinforcing Mahindra’s credibility as a planet-positive business group.”

Meanwhile, Hitachi Energy has also strengthened its sustainability leadership by appointing its CSO Lorena Dellagiovanna as a Director of the Board.