Updated CSO Research
Updated CSO Research
Weinreb Group presents its CSO findings for 2018
Back in 2011 we recognized a trend of companies establishing the title Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO). Our seminal report CSO Back Story chronicled the role and quantified the number of publicly traded US companies adding the title “Chief Sustainability Officer” to the senior most sustainability person at their company. At the time we identified 29 CSOs.
Today, as of December 2018, as we update our findings, we have 44 CSOs. Please see below our key findings as well as the list of 44.
Table of Contents
- Key Findings
- List of 44 CSOs
- Past Reports
KEY FINDINGS
We identified 44 US-based CSOs at US publicly traded companies. Note the steady rise from 29 CSOs in 2011 to 44 in 2018.
One of our biggest findings is that this role was held by men predominately in 2011 (72%). Today the gender is more balanced – 55% men and 45% women.
We chronicle what year the company creates the CSO title.
Of those CSOs who have left the role, they held onto that position for an average of 4.9 years, up from 2 years in 2011.
10 companies are on at least their 2nd CEO.
Three companies are on their 3rd CSO.
Approximately 3 out of 4 CSOs are hired from within their company whereas 1 out of 4 is brought in from the outside.
50% of companies replace a departing CSO.
CSO LIST
As of December 2018, we identified 44 individuals with the title “Chief Sustainability Officer” working in the US for US publicly traded companies.
| CSO | Company | Year Appointed |
|---|---|---|
| Don Anderson | Blackstone | 2011 |
| Tamara Barker | UPS | 2016 |
| Elizabeth Barry | Marsh & McLennan | 2010 |
| Audrey Choi | Morgan Stanley | 2017 |
| Jon S. Chorley | Oracle | 2011 |
| Francesca DeBiase | McDonald's | 2015 |
| Patrick Dinkel | APS (Pinnacle West) | 2017 |
| Paul Gilman | Covanta Energy | 2008 |
| Chris Gould | Exelon | 2010 |
| James Gowen | Verizon | 2009 |
| Erik Hansen | Wynn Resorts | 2018 |
| Neil Hawkins | Dow | 2014 |
| Nate Hurst | HP | 2016 |
| Daniel Hutter | Spectrum Brands | 2014 |
| Mitch Jackson | FedEx | 2017 |
| Jennifer Jenkins | Enviva | 2016 |
| Susan Jin Davis | Comcast Corporation | 2016 |
| Anisa Kamadoli Costa | Tiffany & Co. | 2015 |
| Mike Kelley | YRC Worldwide | 2008 |
| Noel Kinder | Nike | 2018 |
| Kristina Kloberdanz | Mastercard | 2018 |
| Riva Krut | Praxair | 2013 |
| Charlene Lake | AT&T | 2009 |
| Stewart Leeth | Smithfield Foods Inc. | 2016 |
| Jerry Lynch | General Mills | 2010 |
| Mike Manzella | LSC Communications | 2016 |
| Kathleen McLaughlin | Walmart | 2013 |
| Erin Meezan | Interface | 2016 |
| Christine Montenegro McGrath | Mondelez International | 2017 |
| Frank O'Brien-Bernini | Owens Corning | 2007 |
| Cindy Ortega | MGM | 2011 |
| Monique Oxender | Keurig Dr Pepper | 2014 |
| Dave Patton | Mohawk Industries, Inc. | 2014 |
| Bea Perez | Coca-Cola | 2011 |
| Norbert Riezler | Las Vegas Sands | 2012 |
| Tim Ring | MetLife | 2018 |
| Jackie Roberts | The Carlyle Group | 2014 |
| Gayle Schueller | 3M | 2018 |
| Amy Senter | Kellogg | 2018 |
| Dave Stangis | Campbell Soup Company | 2016 |
| Alison Taylor | Archer Daniel Midlands | 2017 |
| Christopher Wellise | Hewlett Packard Enterprise | 2017 |
| Justin Whitmore | Tyson Foods | 2017 |
| Gregory Yep | International Flavors & Fragrances | 2016 |