With thanks to Miriam Heale, Allen & York Recruitment
Julia Kingis about to join corporate sustainability strategy and communications consultancy Context as managing director, Europe. She will assume Simon Propper’s responsibilities for running the UK operation when he moves to Los Angeles to expand Context’s existing operations in the US. King has 30 years of corporate management experience gained in the pharmaceutical industry, working for a range of firms, including Glaxo, Zeneca, Astra, SmithKline Beecham and, most recently, GlaxoSmithKline.
Henderson Global Investorshas appointed Jenny Pidgeon as director of property – responsible property investment (RPI). Pidgeon will be responsible for developing and implementing Henderson’s RPI programme, chairing the RPI committee and co-ordinating all aspects of Henderson Property’s sustainability approach. Pidgeon joins from Upstream Sustainability Services, where she worked with several leading investors on their sustainability strategies and was involved with industry research into the link between sustainability and investment performance.
Ethix SRI Advisorshas established a new advisory council to provide strategic advice on its approach to norm-based screening, across the spectrum of human rights, environmental, labour and anti-corruption issues. It will be chaired by regular contributor to Ethical Corporation Dr Rory Sullivan.
Paul Hiltonhas joined Trillium Asset Management as a portfolio manager. Hilton has been involved in sustainable and responsible investing for more than 15 years, working on both the investment and sustainability research and advocacy sides. Prior to joining Trillium, Hilton was vice-president, sustainable investment business strategy, at Calvert Investments.
BT has appointed Niall Dunne as chief sustainability officer to lead the company’s climate change and sustainable development strategy. Dunne will co-ordinate all sustainability activities across BT, ensuring sustainability practices are embedded into BT's strategy, products and services. Dunne has spent the past decade leading sustainability practices in Saatchi & Saatchi and Accenture and has chaired a number of industry initiatives, including the sustainable consumption project board for the World Economic Forum in 2009.
Sustainable Atlanta, a non-profit organisation focused on sustainability policy and programs, has hired Suzanne Burnes as its new executive director. Previously, Burnes served as the assistant director of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ sustainability division. She also spearheaded the division’s Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia, a voluntary business leadership programme.
E.ONhas appointed Mike Winkel as chief executive officer of E.ON climate and renewables. Winkel was previously deputy director-general of E.ON Russia and OGK-4, where he was responsible for energy business and optimisation.
Appointment of the month
Beatriz Perez, currently chief marketing officer for Coca-Cola North America, will become chief sustainability officer of The Coca-Cola Company. In this new role, Perez will integrate Coca-Cola’s sustainability initiatives in the areas of water, climate protection, packaging and recycling, and community through a new global Office of Sustainability. Under Perez’s leadership, the office of sustainability will create and oversee Coca-Cola's integrated global sustainability strategy.
“We have made significant progress with our sustainability initiatives, but our current approach needs focus and better integration to further accelerate our system sustainability agenda and meet our 2020 Vision goals,” says Muhtar Kent, chairman and chief executive officer.
Perez joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1996 as an associate brand manager and has held various roles, including director, NASCAR; vice-president, sports and entertainment for The Coca-Cola Company; and senior vice-president of integrated marketing for Coca-Cola North America.
The new chairman of the Church of England’s Ethical Investment Advisory Group will be corporate lawyer James Featherby. A recently retired partner of City law firm Slaughter and May, Featherby was a corporate finance lawyer and led the firm’s corporate real estate practice. He will succeed the present chairman, investment banker John Reynolds, in January 2012.
BWise, an enterprise risk management, corporate compliance and internal control solutions provider, has appointedMikko Valtonen as its business development director for sustainability and EHS. Valtonen founded Proventia Solutions Oy, a leading Scandinavian sustainability software and consulting company in 1999.
Phillips Foods and Seafood Restaurantshas appointed Ed Rhodesto the newly created position of vice-president for sustainability and aquaculture development. Rhodes was previously co-director of Phillips’ aquaculture and sustainability division.
Jenny Bordenhas joined the Board of Traidcraft. Borden was previously deputy director and international director of Christian Aid. She is a non-executive director of Crown Agents, chair of the Fair Trade Advocacy office in Brussels, and a former chair of Practical Action and BOND.
GSH Group, an energy and technical facilities management company, has hired Nigel Larkman as director of energy services for the UK and Ireland. Larkman’s former role was head of environment and sustainability at the National Australia Banking Group.
Zoë Ardenhas joined MSL Group to head up a new sustainability unit that will span MSL London, Publicis Consultants and SAS London. Arden was previously director of communications and CSR at BT Retail.
Oxford-based sustainability consultancy Best Foot Forward has appointed a new chief executive, John Zafar. Zafar has a management background within the professional services sector.