Cushman & Wakefield gets its first Chief Sustainability Officer

Real estate broker Cushman & Wakefield has promoted Jessica Francisco into the newly created role of Chief Sustainability Officer.

Reporting to Chief Investment & Strategy Officer Nathaniel Robinson, Francisco will be tasked with developing and implementing the firm’s sustainability strategies and goals, embedding best practices across business units and establishing metrics to measure progress.

She joined the NYSE-listed firm in 2022 as Global Head of Sustainability for occupier services, and before that led sustainability at design and engineering firm Arcadis. Her 20 years of sustainability experience also include leading the renewable energy and climate consulting team at 3Degrees and the design and execution of clean energy programmes at Pacific Gas & Electric. 

“This new CSO role reflects the firm’s commitment to advancing sustainability not only for our own operations but also through the strategic advice and services we provide our clients. The appointment is a significant step in our ongoing journey toward a more sustainable and resilient future for all,” said Robinson.

Cushman & Wakefield climate targets

Cushman & Wakefield, which declared almost US$9.5 billion in revenue in 2023, has an SBTi- approved target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, from a 2019 base year. In the near term, the company is aiming to cut absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and for 70% of its customers by use of sold products emissions set science-based targets by 2025.

As of 2022, it had reduced operational emissions by 27% to 24,918 tonnes of CO2e, while Scope 3 emissions stood at 14.7 million tonnes (down 24% from its baseline).

“As a leading global commercial real estate firm, Cushman & Wakefield has a responsibility to help create a more sustainable future for our firm and our clients,” said Francisco. “Our clients depend on us to help them achieve their ambitious environmental, social and governance goals that will positively impact future generations.”  

Competitors CBRE and JLL brought in their first Chief Sustainability Officers some time ago: CBRE named former Microsoft environmental strategist Robert Bernard in the role in early 2023, and JLL poached Interface’s long-serving first CSO, Erin Meezan, in October 2022.