GENEVA, Nov. 7, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- PricewaterhouseCoopers International CEO Samuel A. DiPiazza, Jr. has been elected Chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Mr. DiPiazza will succeed Travis Engen, CEO of Alcan Corp., on 1 January 2008 and is the first representative from a professional services organisation to chair the Council.
With headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the WBCSD was created in 1991 to involve business in the Rio Earth Summit. According to a 2006 world survey by GlobeScan, the WBCSD is not only the leading organization advancing sustainable development, but also the most respected provider of information on sustainability issues.
"Sam DiPiazza, as leader of the world's largest professional services organization, is an excellent choice to carry forward the important work of the WBCSD in raising global awareness of the issues of sustainability and helping to forge consensus about the role of businesses in society," said Bjorn Stigson, President of the WBCSD.
"I'm honored that I have been selected to lead the WBCSD at a time when the critical issues of sustainable development, climate change and the environment are at the forefront of the business and social agenda," Sam DiPiazza said. "I believe businesses must act responsibly as global citizens and play a lead role in building of a more sustainable world. The WBCSD is the best organization to help business achieve this."
Mr. DiPiazza said he would bring an independent mindset and a wide international and cross-industry perspective to help the WBCSD. With increasing public concern about the environment and the growing gap between have and have-nots, business, government and civil society must address these challenges together. Leading global companies will be those that provide continually improving goods and services and reach new customers in ways that address the world's major challenges. Mr. DiPiazza hopes to generate momentum for the group by leveraging PwC's global networks and engaging other CEOs to become more proactive in addressing sustainability.
Notes to editors:
1. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development
(www.wbcsd.org) is a CEO-led, global association of some 200
companies dealing exclusively with business and sustainable
development.
The Council provides a platform for companies to explore
sustainable development, share knowledge, experiences and best
practices, and to advocate business positions on these issues in
a variety of forums, working with governments, non-governmental
and intergovernmental organizations.
Members are drawn from more than 35 countries and 20 major
industrial sectors. The Council also benefits from a global
network of about 55 national and regional business councils and
regional partners, involving about 1,000 business leaders
worldwide.
2. PricewaterhouseCoopers (www.pwc.com) provides industry-focused
assurance, tax and advisory to build public trust and enhance
value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 146,000
people in 150 countries across our network share their thinking,
experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and
practical advice.
PricewaterhouseCoopers has been a very active member of the WBCSD
since 2001, participating in a number of working groups and
providing members of the WBCSD future leaders network.
PricewaterhouseCoopers has an established international team with
a presence in 40 countries that has been advising clients on
sustainability issues since 1991.