New Global Head for GRI

A veteran sustainability CEO and entrepreneur has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

Michael Meehan has almost 20 years experience in the sustainability field, including sustainable supply chain and carbon/energy reporting technologies.

Specialising in bringing innovative corporate sustainability issues and solutions to the public, he has advised a range of stakeholders including investors, startups and governments.

Meehan has led companies in several countries, including Carbonetworks (2004-2010) and iVeridis Corporation (2010-2013). Focused on the intersection of innovation and sustainability, he has also advised multinationals worldwide on sustainability issues.

“Michael has a longstanding commitment to the sustainability field with a strong presence in technology and business reporting. Having demonstrated entrepreneurial leadership, strategic vision, as well as significant management abilities, it is clear to the GRI Board that Michael is the ideal person to lead us forward,” GRI Chairman Christianna Wood said.

“Michael shares GRI’s vision of a sustainable global economy and is committed to continuing GRI’s ground-breaking leadership to make sustainability and human rights issues integral parts of how all organisations are managed."

“I look forward to leading GRI’s executive team and the organisation broadly to further strengthen GRI’s role in establishing sustainability reporting as a valuable global standard practice,” Meehan said.

“I believe this is a pivotal time in sustainability reporting where innovation and collaboration are critical components of every organisation’s sustainability strategy. GRI will continue playing its role in mainstreaming sustainability disclosures, and ultimately making a significant contribution to global sustainable development.”

Meehan succeeds Ernst Ligteringen, who is leaving GRI after 12 years.

"GRI will forever be indebted to Ernst Ligteringen for the leadership he has demonstrated over the past 12 years. Over this time, GRI has established itself as an iconic brand in the field of sustainability reporting. Ernst’s accomplishments are myriad,” Christianna Wood said.  

“They include the more than 5000 reporting organisations that use GRI’s standards, as well as four generations of standards referenced in 23 countries, and the first class leadership team he has assembled."

GRI said Meehan’s appointment came at a crucial juncture for GRI and for sustainability disclosures, with the sustainability reporting landscape evolving to include working with new methodologies such as those on natural capital and around integrated reporting.

The organisation said Meehan would drive GRI’s collaboration with global reporting frameworks, guide the organisation in achieving its mission of making sustainability reporting standard practice worldwide, and promoting the role of sustainability disclosures in addressing global sustainability challenges.

GRI is an international Not for Profit promoting the use of sustainability reporting, with a network-based structure. The organisation produces free Sustainability Reporting Guidelines to enable companies and organisations to report their economic, environmental, social and governance performance.

The KPMG Survey of Corporate Responsibility Reporting 2013 found that more than three quarters (83 per cent) of the top 100 companies in Australia by revenue report on CSR.

The research showed that GRI guidelines remain the dominant reporting framework used in Australia, employed by more than 83 per cent of companies in their reporting.

Globally, 95 per cent of the largest companies (G250) are now preparing sustainability reports, with 82 per cent of those referring to GRI.