Next step in GRI’s leadership transition

Cristina Gil White has been appointed interim CEO of GRI, stepping up from her role as Chief Operational Officer. With a diverse track record in sustainability leadership, Cristina joined GRI’s management team one year ago, after serving as a Supervisory Board Member.

As COO, Cristina has been responsible for GRI’s commercial operations, marketing, stakeholder relations and organizational strategy. As interim CEO, she has a mandate to lead the final stages in developing GRI’s strategy for the upcoming years, in partnership with the Supervisory Board and Management Board, and in consultation with staff and GRI governance bodies. This will include rolling out the strategy and translating it into action plans for the organization to implement.

This appointment follows the initiation of a CEO recruitment process in June, as a result of Eelco van der Enden’s decision to step down, and will ensure a smooth transition. A decision on permanent leadership arrangements will be made in the coming months.

Cristina has a deep understanding of GRI and the varied needs and perspectives of our key stakeholders and staff, alongside proven credentials in corporate sustainability. She is therefore ideally placed to take on leadership of the organization at this time and I am delighted she has agreed to be interim CEO. The Management and Supervisory Boards will fully support Cristina to deliver on GRI’s strategic priorities.

Jessica Fries, Chair of the GRI Supervisory Board

I believe the mission and values that GRI represents – to empower organizations to create sustainable, long-term value and unlock positive change – are more relevant now than ever. As interim CEO and with the support of a fantastic team, I am ready to get to work to achieve our goals. I also want to place on record my personal thanks to Eelco for his support and guidance since I joined GRI.

Cristina Gil White, Interim CEO

A Mexican national based in Madrid, Cristina’s corporate leadership positions, in which she led on sustainability reporting, included Chief Sustainability and Chief Communications Officer (Brazilian pulp manufacturer Suzano) and VP Sustainability (Mexican multinational chemical company Orbia). She has also held senior roles with nonprofits in Europe, the USA and Latin America, which span environmental conservation, education and poverty alleviation.

Photo credit © GRI