New Chair and Vice-Chair for GRI Supervisory Board
Published date: 12 December 2023
Confirmation of governance refresh from January 2024
Jessica Fries, Chief Executive of Accounting for Sustainability (A4S), has been appointed as the new Chair of the GRI Supervisory Board effective 1 January 2024, and will lead the governance body responsible for the organization’s long-term priorities and strategy.
First joining the Board in 2019, Jessica became Vice-Chair two years ago. She takes over as Chair from Jack Ehnes (former CEO of CalSTRS) who is stepping down from the Supervisory Board after five years’ service, including two as Chair. Furthermore, current Board Member Bola Adeeko (Director of Special Projects, Flour Mills of Nigeria plc) will be the new Vice-Chair.
Under a two-tier structure, the Supervisory Board oversees and advises the GRI Management Board, which leads on operational policy and management. Multi-stakeholder and globally diverse representation underpins the Supervisory Board’s authority in guiding the work of GRI, the provider of the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting standards.
I am honored to be selected as the next Chair of the GRI Supervisory Board. As the producer of the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting standards, GRI has a vital role to play in enabling companies to report to stakeholders on their material sustainability impacts. I look forward to working with my fellow board members, GRI, and our many stakeholders around the world, to help ensure reporting drives the action we need for a sustainable future.
Jessica Fries, the new Chair of the GRI Supervisory BoardLeading the Board as Chair for the past two years has been a hugely enlightening and rewarding experience. By ensuring good governance and effective oversight, we have an essential role in supporting GRI to achieve its purpose and mission. Looking forward I am very confident that, under Jessica and Bola’s astute leadership, the Supervisory Board will continue to contribute to the growing relevance of GRI in the years to come.
Jack Ehnes, Departing Chair of the GRI Supervisory BoardThe foundational multi-stakeholder ethos of GRI is crucial because it underpins the global legitimacy of the organization’s activities, standards and governance. As a board member I have seen this in practice and I am delighted, therefore, to serve as Vice-Chair alongside people from around the world that represent businesses, civil society, investors, labor organizations and mediating institutions.
Bola Adeeko, the new Vice-Chair of the GRI Supervisory BoardJessica has led A4S since 2008, working with the finance community to catalyze a shift to a sustainable economy. She has been responsible for establishing the International Integrated Reporting Council, as well as A4S’s CFO Leadership Network and capital markets program. A chartered accountant, Jessica previously worked for PwC.
Bola Adeeko has a leadership track record of over 25 years with leading organizations, including Nigerian Stock Exchange, Sara Lee Corporation, First Data Corporation, and JP Morgan Chase. In his current role with Flour Mills of Nigeria, he is responsible for critical business growth initiatives.
Appointments to the Supervisory Board are on a voluntary basis and members serve a term of three years (which may be extended). Membership is refreshed on a regular basis with a global public call for applications. A nomination period for new membership recently closed, with further appointments to be confirmed shortly. Applicants were sought that reflect five defined consistency groups, prioritized skillsets, and representation from various regions.