When compared to other C-suite members like CEOs, CFOs and CHROs, chief sustainability officers (CSOs) are far less recognized, but that doesn’t make their job any less crucial — in fact, they may have one of the most important roles in securing a business’s future.
Only 17% of companies have an official CSO, a role that focuses on managing an organization’s environmental impact, according to a 2023 survey from executive search firm Boyden Global. Yet employers are addressing the need to place a singular focus in this area, as 23% have a dedicated sustainability lead and 46% have sustainability initiatives led by a board or executive committee.
