Global professional services provider JTC has appointed Wendy Holley as its first Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO).
In this new remit, Wendy, who will also continue in her existing position as Chief Operating Officer (COO), will play a key role in bringing together JTC’s obligations as a responsible London Stock Exchange-listed business to develop and evolve its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework based on the firm’s purpose and cultural values.
Sitting on both JTC’s Plc and Group Holding Boards, Wendy will help to ensure that JTC’s ESG objectives are fully integrated with the firm’s strategic commercial decision making, spanning a full range of environmental, social and governance criteria.
As part of its transparent approach to ESG benchmarking, JTC has been disclosing its ESG credentials on a voluntary basis in line with the Professional & Commercial Services Standard issued by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) for two years, with a view to assisting investors and other stakeholders in understanding the governance and management of its environmental and social impacts.
Additionally, the firm will report for the first time this year under the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework, formed by the Financial Stability Board, highlighting climate-related risks and opportunities. Last year, JTC also became a Carbon Neutral+ organization, working with independent carbon accreditation firm Carbon Footprint to fund a series of carbon offsetting projects in the UK, India, Kenya and Brazil.
Commenting on her appointment, Wendy said:
“As a leading provider of professional services, we recognise not only the obligation we have to put ESG at the core of our strategic decision making, but also the opportunities doing so has as part of a long-term commercially successful, responsible supply chain. We are uniquely positioned to support our clients as they navigate ever changing legal and regulatory frameworks and help align capital flows to address ESG issues and are committed to demonstrating a forward-thinking approach in this space. In 2022 we will look to build on our ESG strategy to continue to enhance our reporting and seek opportunities to understand the impact of Net Zero targets on our entire value chain.”
Highlighting the importance of social and governance objectives alongside environmental, Nigel Le Quesne, CEO, JTC Group, added:
“I’m delighted that Wendy will take on this new role, as we look to show continued leadership in a rapidly evolving area that connects the commercial world and society more widely. For over 30 years, JTC has worked hard to be a good corporate citizen and our shared ownership culture and governance track record are clear evidence of this commitment. As our business continue to grow, it is important that our people are empowered to support clients in ways that are sustainable for the long-term. Equally, by encouraging employees to engage with and contribute to their local communities, we aim to have a broader positive impact in all the places where we live and work.”
