US leads growth in chief sustainability positions

The number of chief sustainability officers (CSOs) in the US is accelerating, though it may be difficult for outsiders and new talent aspiring to the role to get a foot on the ladder.

Research by the Weinreb Group shows there are now 29 CSOs in publicly-traded US companies and, of these, only four hold MBAs. Knowledge of the company and external affairs experience seem far more important for recruitment than a specific background of sustainability or CSR.
 
CSOs typically sit above old-style CSR directors and managers, and may sometimes have influence comparable to that of chief financial officers.

They can be a link between the board and functional heads of departments such as environment, health and safety, corporate affairs and human resources.

Weinreb’s report, How Chief Sustainability Officers Reached the C-Suite, shows that once CSOs enter their post, they can expect operational freedom and to be no more than two degrees removed from the chief executive. More than a third report directly to the chief executive.

At present, however, CSOs will need to run ‘nimble operations’ on thin resources.

The document also gives advice to both aspiring CSOs and companies with or without that job title in their operations.

Ellen Weinreb, the report’s author, concludes: “Only 29 among the roughly 7,000 publicly traded companies in the US have instituted chief sustainability officers. That’s a huge opportunity for sustainability professionals.

“As a recruiter, I don’t really care what the candidate’s title is. There are, however, best practices associated with a CSO that I would want to see in my candidates for sustainability officer searches.”