IEMA appoints new CEO

Sustainability body IEMA has appointed former award-winning environmental BBC journalist Sarah Mukherjee as its new chief executive.

Mukherjee joins with a dynamic track record of leading and developing effective strategy, policy and communications, having worked as director of environment at Water UK and CEO of the Crop Protection Association (CPA).

She will take over from IEMA's interim CEO Toby Robins in June, and join as the UK prepares to host the COP 26 climate summit in Glasgow in November this year.

I am delighted to be joining IEMA at such a crucial time for sustainability management in the UK and globally, Mukherjee said.

“In the year that the COP comes to the UK, it's clear that our members are walking the walk when it comes to delivering a low-carbon future, and I am very much looking forward to leading IEMA's dynamic team.“

Mukherjee read law at the University of Oxford between 1984 and 1987 before obtaining a diploma in French from the Open University in 1998 and a MBA from the University of Warwick this year.

She joined the BBC as a reporter in 1990, where she worked for 18 years, joined Water UK in 2010 and was made CEO of the CPA in 2017.

Professor Paul Leinster CBE, chair of IEMA's board, said: “As the leading professional body in this space, we are proud to be on a mission to help businesses and other organisations transform the world to sustainability and it is imperative we have an influential leader at the helm, at this time, to help us achieve this.

“I believe Sarah will provide visible leadership and will represent and continue to grow IEMA's significant membership of 15,500 professionals, who are the specialists and change-makers at the forefront of tackling key issues of our time, such as the climate and environmental emergency and transitioning to Net Zero and net environment gain.“

Meanwhile, CPA chair Michael Muncey, said: “It is with regret that I announce that Sarah Mukherjee has decided to leave her position as chief executive of the CPA to take up the role of chief executive of IEMA

“Sarah has made a significant contribution in representing the industry, steering the organisation through the uncertainties of Brexit and leading the team in challenging times.

“On behalf of the board I would like to thank Sarah for her efforts and wish her well in her new role at IEMA.“

Image credit: IEMA