Rolls-Royce Holdings nabs its first chief sustainability officer

After spending nearly five years as BP’s first chief sustainability officer, Ivanka Mamic is becoming the first CSO and global head of government relations at Rolls-Royce Holdings.

“As someone with a strong interest in enduring, mission-driven companies, I am proud to join this iconic British organization and be part of a team focused on excellence and innovation to drive real-world solutions to complex challenges,” Mamic posted on LinkedIn in early January.

Unlike the oil giant, which did a recent U-turn on low-carbon energy, Rolls-Royce appears committed to embed its climate goals across its strategies, products and research and development. It also ties success on sustainability metrics to managers’ compensation.

The aerospace and engineering firm — not to be confused with BMW subsidiary Rolls-Royce Motor Cars — maintains a 2050 target for net zero within its own operations. In the near term, it aims for a 46 percent drop in those climate emissions by 2030 over a 2019 baseline. The company has committed its goals to the Science-based Targets initiative, which has not validated them.

More than 170 people have commented favorably on Mamic’s LinkedIn post.”A pivotal appointment at a time when industrial decarbonization, transparency and operational accountability matter more than ever,” wrote Neno Duplan, founder and CEO of Locus Technologies.

Mamic is the first person with her exact title at Rolls-Royce. Previously, Rachel Everard served as head of sustainability from 2019 until 2025, when she joined Great Britain’s Rail Safety and Standards Board.

Rolls-Royce, which makes engines for jets including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, has explored sustainable aviation fuels and ultra-efficient engines. The company has also explored efficiencies and hydrogen-readiness for its military aircraft engines and other power systems. Rolls-Royce is also working on small modular reactors, which the U.K. has chosen for its next generation of nuclear plants.

Rolls-Royce, with major hubs in Asia, Europe and North America, sources components and materials globally.

Work at BP

Mamic led BP’s corporate sustainability agenda while it was grappling with the realignment of fossil fuel investments and its decarbonization goals.

When Mamic became the senior vice president and CSO at BP in March 2021, the company was publicly committed to reaching net zero by 2050 under CEO Bernard Looney. However, Looney left in September 2023 after failing to disclose a personal relationship with a colleague.

The former “beyond petroleum” corporation rethought its commitment to sustainability under the next CEO, Murray Auchincloss. In 2024, BP let go of Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath, its low-carbon energy leader, and in 2025 it pushed out Strategy & Sustainability Chief Giulia Chierchia and downgraded its clean energy commitments while getting set to expand oil production.

Highlights from Mamic’s tenure included a 38 percent drop in Scope 1 and 2 emissions over 2019 levels, according to its 2024 sustainability report. The company also reduced freshwater use by 17 percent in 2024 against a 2020 baseline.

Mamic’s path

Mamic, a Cambridge philosophy Ph.D., remains in London for the new role.

Early in her career, she spent more than 15 years at the International Labour Organization as a CSR and environment specialist. That included ensuring standards across supply chains in East Asia and piloting a Green Jobs in Asia program.

After that, she joined Target. In five years, Mamic transitioned from director of responsible sourcing to vice president of global sourcing and responsibility, overseeing social compliance, environmental performance and supply chain transparency.

She now brings her experience to Rolls-Royce at a moment of rising geopolitical tensions and decarbonization pressures.