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Sustainability Executive Search

Sustainability has become synonymous with transformation, and how leaders act today influences what our world looks like tomorrow. Our Sustainability Practice Group helps organizations develop their culture, teams, and individual leaders to be forces for good. We draw out the potential of emerging leaders who will create our better tomorrow. We aim to create mutual benefits for our people, our planet, and the communities we impact.
 

We help organizations dream about what the sustainability function can look like, and coach Chief Sustainability Officers to be the best versions of themselves.

Rachael De Renzy Channer, Global Head of Sustainability


Who We Are

  • Our consultants are former industry executives and sustainability leaders, with experience working at CDP, TOMRA Systems, BP Alternative Energy, and start-up sustainability ventures, among others.

  • Established in 2008, we have over a decade of experience partnering with organizations on sustainability leadership solutions.

  • We work across industries, partnering with Fortune 100 companies, asset and private fund managers, non-profits, start-ups and family businesses.

  • We have one global P&L. As a result, we are incentivized to collaborate and harness all of our Firm’s resources to ensure our clients’ success. We tap into our firm-wide network to offer creative solutions.

  • We believe sustainability must be at the heart of businesses and can help your organization develop and implement sustainability strategies and talent solutions, whether you are at the start or the midpoint of your journey.

 

What We Do

Our Sustainability Practice Group partners with clients to solve to their most complex sustainability challenges to build teams that will contribute to environmental quality, long-term economic prosperity, and improved social equity.

  • We discover and develop talent with spikes in sustainability for roles across organizations, including Chief Sustainability Officers, Heads of ESG, as well as P&L leaders and investors focused on social impact and climate solutions.

  • We help boards understand their role as stewards and what sustainability means to their companies and how to integrate it into the CEO mandate and board committee structure.

  • We partner with investors and corporate leaders on impact investing and discover and develop fund-level sustainability leaders for private capital and asset managers.

  • Our consultants help you build a sustainability function from the ground up, defining the right goals for your organization and then measuring and achieving them.

  • We benchmark performance across peer sustainability functions, connect you with best-in-class sustainability leaders, and assess and develop Sustainability talent internally.

 

How We Will Work Together

We understand that companies today need transformational leadership in order to achieve their vision for sustainable businesses. Our global consultant team partners with you on key leadership challenges, whether you are at the start of your sustainability journey, looking for your first Chief Sustainability Officer, elevating the role of sustainability in your organization to the CEO and board level, or re-imagining your core business purpose to address the challenges of the 21st Century. As a Firm, Egon Zehnder is committed to one enduring purpose: Leadership for a better world. Our Sustainability Practice helps organizations realize their full potential to change the world for the better.


Sustainability Consultants

Catherine Zhu

Catherine Zhu

Toronto

Global Lead

Catherine Zhu, based in Toronto, is Egon Zehnder’s Global Head of the Sustainability Practice. She is a trusted advisor to boards… Read more

Manuel Waenke

Manuel Waenke

New York

Based in New York City, Manuel Waenke advises companies and organizations on key leadership challenges and executive recruitment. Read more

Zachary Pomerantz

Zachary Pomerantz

New York

Zach Pomerantz is in Egon Zehnder’s Global Services Practice, and is the US Head of Hospitality and Leisure. Focused on Real Estate, Travel &… Read more

Allison Grover

Allison Grover

New York

Based in New York, Allison leads Egon Zehnder’s New York Banking & Markets Practice, where she focuses on investment banking, capital markets… Read more

Edward Young

Edward Young

Boston

Based in Boston, Ed Young is active in Egon Zehnder’s Industrial practice with a special focus on utilities, power, and renewables. Read more

Kristen Burke

Kristen Burke

Atlanta

Kristen Burke, based in Atlanta, leads in the firm’s Human Resource Officer practice at the intersection of Consumer and Technology… Read more

Gabi Carvalho

Gabi Carvalho

Miami

Gabi Carvalho co-leads Egon Zehnder’s Global Financial Services Practice focusing on Payments, Retail Banking, FinTech and Insurance. Read more

Ana Paula González

Ana Paula González

Miami

Ana Paula González is a trusted leadership advisor that partners with leaders at Board, Investor and Management levels at the intersection of VC & PE… Read more

Michelle Park

Michelle Park

Dallas

Michelle Lin Park, based in Dallas, is a core leader in the Consumer practice, with expertise across beauty, retail, and lifestyle sectors. Read more

Lindsay Trout

Lindsay Trout

Palo Alto

Lindsay Trout has spent her career helping companies and their leaders succeed in the digital era. Based in Palo Alto… Read more

Elena Rodighiero

Elena Rodighiero

Palo Alto

Elena Rodighiero is active in Egon Zehnder’s Energy and Technology Practice Groups, helping clients navigate their transformation journeys. In… Read more

Chris King-Sidney

Chris King-Sidney

Seattle, Vancouver

Based in Seattle, Chris King-Sidney is a core member of Egon Zehnder’s Industrial practice and, as a trusted advisor to clients… Read more

Alejandro Elizondo

Alejandro Elizondo

Mexico City, Monterrey

Based in Monterrey, Alejandro Elizondo leads Egon Zehnder’s Industrial Practice in Mexico. He is also an active member of the firm’s global Financial… Read more

Laura Rey

Laura Rey

Bogotá

Based in Bogotá, Laura Rey Pizano is active in Egon Zehnder’s Private Capital and Infrastructure practices as well as in the firm’s Legal… Read more

Toby Gibbs

Toby Gibbs

London

Toby Gibbs, based in London, advises international companies on talent strategy, assessment, leadership development, and board and executive search. Read more

Magali McIntyre

Magali McIntyre

London

Magali McIntyre advises technology organisations, financial services clients, and private equity-backed high-growth companies on leadership… Read more


Thought Leadership | Sustainability

Read more insights
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Chief Sustainability Officers share how they are transforming their organizations—and what they need from boards and CEOs to make their vision a reality. Read more

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In conversation with Michael Greenstone, Climate Vault co-founder and Milton Friedman Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago. Read more

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In conversation with Robert G. Eccles, author, ESG Expert and Visiting Professor of Management Practice at the Said Business School at Oxford University. Read more

How to Find a CSO with the Range of Skills your Company Needs

How to Find a CSO with the Range of Skills your Company Needs

The CSO role has become much more strategic, taking responsibility for broader business transformation, explains Catherine Zhu, Global Head of Egon Zehnder's Sustainability Practice. Read more

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