As Brambles, Ltd.’s Head of Sustainability for North America, I bring more than 25 years of experience integrating principles of sustainable development into business strategy, operations, culture, and external relationships—creating greater shared value for all stakeholders, including shareholders.
After a conventional early career in big oil and chemicals as a chemical engineer with an MBA, my professional purpose—and life—was turned upside down by the radical industrialist, Ray Anderson, founder of Interface, Inc. For nearly two decades, I had the privilege of of working closely with Ray, his external advisors, and Interface colleagues to pioneer and implement the most radical, cutting edge, competitive business strategies focused on sustainable business: circular economy, climate change, green buildings, sustainable design, biomimicry, climate neutral products, eco-metrics, human well-being, and the first triple-bottom-line external reporting.
In addition to my leadership responsibilities at Interface, I also advocated for the next level of responsible, conscious commerce as the right and smart thing to do through service to the US Green Building Council, where I served as chairman for two terms; the World Business Council for Sustainable Development; the President’s Council on Sustainable Development; and the Atlanta chapter of Conscious Capitalism as co-founder.
Between my leadership roles at Interface and Brambles, I served as advisor and consultant to dozens of organizations, including more than forty Fortune 1000 multi-national corporations and leading non-profit organizations committed to sustainable development, including the UN Global Compact and the Corporate EcoForum.
As the global pandemic shakes the foundations of our very society—including commerce—it has become even clearer that the role of every leader must be to create the conditions conducive to thriving lives for all. It has become my life’s work.
