The B Team is excited to announce changes to its executive leadership team. Halla Tómasdóttir, former Presidential candidate of Iceland, a successful entrepreneur and an advocate for principled leadership and gender balance, will be joining the organization as CEO effective August 1, 2018.

In addition to Ms. Tómasdóttir’s appointment, The B Team is also transitioning the role of Board Chairs. Sir Richard Branson, Co-Founder and Co-Chair, and Jochen Zeitz, Co-Founder and Co-and Executive Chair, hand over the role of Chair to Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, and Vice-Chair to Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) effective August 1. These appointments come as the organization celebrates five years since its formation.

“The B Team’s impact on the world over the past five years has been impressive and invaluable. From the role they have played in raising the bar for business ambition on climate, to major policy wins in the fight against corruption and protection of human rights, the power of a purpose-driven and principled private sector is now undeniable,” Ms. Tómasdóttir said, “I can’t imagine a more important quest than to help drive momentum toward the solutions our world desperately needs and deserves—now and in the years to come.”

In 2013, The B Team set out to build a private sector that prioritizes people and planet alongside profit. While this remains an imperative for the world, today purpose-driven business is no longer an exception, but the expectation. To build a truly just and sustainable future, the need for business to take a stand on issues ranging from responsible tax to protection of civic rights to gender-based violence is increasingly apparent.

“I am honored to be appointed as Chair and look forward to continued collaboration with my fellow B Team Leaders to build a more sustainable and fairer economy that serves all,” Mr. Polman said, “Under Richard’s and Jochen’s leadership, The B Team has been instrumental on influencing key issues and advocating for responsible business models. There continues to be a clear need for this and The B Team can help embolden others to step up and step in. “

As a principled leadership advocate, Ms. Tómasdóttir will help strengthen The B Team’s transformative agenda to meet these expectations. Mr. Polman and Ms. Burrow’s steadfast dedication to The B Team’s causes will also help encourage cross-sector leadership and raise ambition to build a private sector that operates for social, environmental and economic benefit.

“The world needs a new leadership model based on a dialogue that involves business, trade unions, civil society and government,” Ms. Burrow said, “Working with leaders like Paul, I am confident we can help to achieve the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement.”

For more information around these appointments, please contact Tyler Zang at tz@bteam.org.