September 21, 2021, New York: The B Team announced today that Ilham Kadri, CEO and President of Solvay, Joseph Kenner, President and CEO of Greyston, and Van Jones, a CNN contributor and founder of the Dream Corps have joined its group of global business and civil society leaders working together to catalyze the transition to an inclusive economy with shared prosperity on a healthy planet.

It is a decisive moment in history, as we grapple with interdependent crises of COVID-19, climate change, inequality and decreasing trust in institutions - and an alarming gap between words and action.

Halla Tómasdóttir, CEO of The B Team said:

“We’re delighted to welcome three new leaders to The B Team as we enter the most consequential time for humanity. Joseph Kenner is supporting other businesses in adopting the open and inclusive hiring model at Greyston to provide opportunities to those previously seen as unemployable. Ilham is placing the planet and human dignity at the heart of Solvay’s transformation while also tackling the twin crises of climate and inequality with leaders around the world. Van Jones has long been relentless in his advocacy for racial justice and climate action, issues now at the center of our economic and social reset.”

The announcement comes ahead of the launch of The New Leadership Playbook and the 10xBolder podcast on September 29, 2021. The New Leadership Playbook is a tool for inspiring existing and emerging leaders to learn from their peers on how to embed the principles of sustainability, equality and accountability into their leadership practice. Successful stewardship of our businesses can, and must, coexist with our communities and our planet.

“The B Team and Greyston share many common interests, including recognition of the dignity of work and striving to employ individuals who face significant barriers to employment. The ability to assist those who need a first or second chance to provide for themselves and their families will be enhanced by collaborating with The B Team and its leaders,” said Joseph Kenner, President and CEO of Greyston, which includes Greyston Foundation and Greyston Bakery.

The B Team aims to help build an inclusive economy by 2030 - one that safeguards our environment and ensures a sustainable, equitable and prosperous future for all. It’s vision is of a world where global inequality gaps are closed. Where we accept nothing less than diversity and gender equity at all levels of organizations. Where all businesses operate transparently and with integrity at their core. Where our economy is regenerative and we’ve delivered a just and inclusive transition for the world’s workers.

“A sustainable future depends on our abilities, as business leaders, to take ambitious collective actions on pressing issues of our time and beyond such as climate change or social inequalities. We need to look in the same direction, and this is what The B Team is all about, we align our visions to make sustainable change happen,” said Ilham Kadri, CEO and President of the Executive Committee of Solvay.

“It is increasingly clear that we need more private sector solutions to public sector problems. In the face of mounting ecological and social crises, individuals, families and governments can do only so much, acting alone. We must leverage the power of markets, the ingenuity of entrepreneurs and the reach of global brands to bend the curve in a powerful way. I am proud to join The B Team, as it seeks solutions to the planet’s toughest challenges,” said Van Jones, CNN and Dream Corps.

Contact

For more information, please contact Nadine Apelian Dobbs via nd@bteam.org.

About The B Team

The B Team is a global collective of business and civil society leaders working to create new norms of corporate leadership today, for a better tomorrow. Together, these leaders are holding themselves and their peers accountable for a better way of doing business—one that measures success not only by financial performance, but also by the health of people and our planet—for the benefit of generations to come.