Teneo UK Makes Two Senior Sustainability Hires

Teneo, the global CEO advisory firm, today announced the appointment of two senior sustainability experts in the UK as the firm continues to develop its global ESG and Sustainability advisory offer.

Teneo UK has appointed Pia Heidenmark Cook, former Chief Sustainability Officer for IKEA, as a Senior Advisor. Pia will work with the team to advise Teneo clients on how to develop and operationalise sustainability strategies and the implications for reputation strategies.

As CSO for IKEA/Ingka Group, Pia led the development and implementation of the IKEA People and Planet Positive strategy. Her cross-functional team worked closely with the business on developing circular business models (including take back offers, leasing and second hand), launching new sustainable offers (such as selling solar panels across 14 markets) and helping customers to live more sustainable and healthier lives. During this time, IKEA ranked in the top three most sustainable brands and managed to decouple carbon dioxide emissions from its commercial growth across the value chain.

Pia has worked with sustainability in the corporate sector for over 25 years and, since leaving IKEA, combines senior advisory with board non-executive roles including Bupa, MAX Burgers and Origin Materials.

Pia will work closely with sustainability strategy leader, Huw Maggs, who joined the firm earlier this year, and Debbie Howard, sustainability lead in Teneo’s UK Strategy and Communications team.

Huw joined Teneo as a Senior Managing Director in its London office in May. Huw previously spent six years at Salterbaxter where he steered some of the world’s leading businesses and brands across a range of sectors through transformative business strategy, sustainability and creative communications milestones. Prior to Salterbaxter, where he advised companies including P&G, NatWest Group and Pernod Ricard, Huw held senior sustainability roles at consultancies SustainAbility and Arup.

Nick Claydon, CEO of Teneo UK, said, “CEOs and business leaders are increasingly being held accountable for protecting and restoring the climate, biodiversity and society in which they operate. Navigating a path to sustainable growth in this fast-changing, high-stakes and contested space requires a deep understanding of ESG issues and experience embedding sustainability in business strategy.”

“As CSO at IKEA, Pia was responsible for driving the sustainability agenda for the company, setting bold goals and engaging its 160,000 employees in the process. I can’t think of a better Senior Advisor for our clients as they embark on their own sustainability journeys. Huw also brings significant expertise in devising sustainability strategies that support growth and resilience. Together, Pia and Huw bring the sustainability strategy expertise to complement our long-standing sustainability reputation strategy capabilities led by Debbie. We are delighted to welcome Pia and Huw to Teneo.”

Pia, Huw and Debbie will work closely with Gaby Sulzberger, Chair of Teneo’s Global ESG Advisory, and colleagues across Teneo’s 40 offices worldwide.

Pia Heidenmark Cook said, “Companies increasingly understand that sustainability is about strategy and business models – what you choose to do (and not do) as a company and how you decide to lead your business creating shareholder and stakeholder value. It is imperative that we find ways to build on previous experience to design and implement ambitious and impactful sustainability strategies at speed. I am looking forward to building on Teneo’s track record of understanding and enabling its clients to lead on important topics by contributing to clients’ sustainability journeys.”

Huw Maggs, Senior Managing Director, said, “Sustainability has become a key strategic driver in many industries and, with it, comes the need to embed sustainability strategies at pace into many areas of the business. Teneo’s unrivalled breadth and depth of expertise makes it ideally placed to help clients unleash the potential of sustainability, and I’m incredibly excited to have joined the organisation at this critical time.”

Contact: Huw Maggs, huw.maggs@teneo.com or Jessica Cain jessica.cain@teneo.com