EY Partner David Kennedy to become SBTi’s new CEO
An economist and longtime U.K. leader in climate action, Kennedy comes to the flagship organization as it resets from a chaotic past year. Read More
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David Kennedy, a London-based partner at consulting giant EY who has advocated a “war room” approach to net zero in the food sector, will become the next CEO at the Science Based Targets initiative. He joins the leading standards body for corporate net zero targets in its 10th year, following a controversy over offsets last spring, and ahead of a major update to its flagship Corporate Net-Zero Standard.
Unanimously approved by the SBTi after a months-long search, Kennedy is expected to start in the second quarter of 2025. He replaces interim CEO Sue Jenny Ehr, who had served since July after Luiz Amaral resigned, reportedly for personal reasons. Amaral and other SBTi leaders had come under fire after the organization in April surprised the sustainability community by suddenly allowing carbon credits to count toward net zero goals. The organization appears to have backpedaled on that shift, even as participating companies are struggling to meet the SBTi’s requirements.
The SBTi had validated the science-based targets of more than 4,200 companies by the end of 2023. It grew by 102 percent in 2023, thanks largely to adoption by companies in Asia. Companies committing to the SBTi agree to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and share regular progress, including targets for 2030 and 2040.
Kennedy, an economics Ph.D., has spent three decades in high-level climate change, energy and sustainability roles within government and private organizations. That includes six years as director general for food, biosecurity and trade at the U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Previously, he was founding chief executive of the independent Committee on Climate Change, which advised U.K. leaders on maturing approaches to climate mitigation and adaptation.
‘War room’ mentality
“I admire the impact that SBTi has had, catalyzing action by thousands of companies around the world: it is an organization that really matters,” he said in a Jan. 7 statement. “I am excited at the prospect of working with the team and partners to advance the mission of the SBTi and deliver even more change at scale, supporting business to make its contribution to the global climate objective in the next crucial period.”
Kennedy in November spoke of bringing to the food industry’s net zero movement a “war room” mentality similar to the accelerated global actions early in the COVID-19 pandemic. “Everybody came together in a highly competitive industry then worked together to solve a common problem,” he told The Grocer in November.
SBTi Chair Francesco Starace called Kennedy a pioneer with “exceptional strategic capabilities and proven operational effectiveness.”
The top issues on Kennedy’s desk will likely include the SBTi’s plans to publish a draft of version two of its Corporate Net-Zero Standard early this year, including a public comment period. Figuring out how to address corporate Scope 3 emisisons remains an ongoing challenge. The organization’s four goals include following the latest science; making continuous improvements; improving value chain target setting and enhancing “structure and interoperability,” according to SBTi Chief Impact Officer Tracy Wyman.
Kennedy will oversee a staff of 145 that lacks a headquarter office. The SBTi incorporated as a U.K. charity in 2023.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), which originally collaborated with CDP, the United Nations Global Compact and World Resources Institute (WRI) on the launch of SBTi a decade ago, shared its hopes for Kennedy’s approach. “We look forward to David Kennedy’s leadership as he guides SBTi through this critical period to sharpen the science-based standards and approaches for businesses to reduce emissions,” said WWF CEO Carter Roberts, in a statement.
“When we think about paving the way for a net-zero future, we think about three things: market transformation led by corporate action; market integrity that enables impact; and a simpler process to set targets and meet them … As we approach 2030, it’s time to maintain ambition and focus on emissions reductions across value chains, high-integrity carbon markets and policy frameworks that support lasting change.”
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