CDP appoints Sherry Madera as CEO effective October 2023

Environmental disclosure non-profit CDP named Sherry Madera, currently Mastercard's SVP of Public Policy, as its new CEO effective October 1, 2023. The leadership change at a body collecting disclosures from over 18,700 companies signals continuity in environmental data efforts relevant to Indian disclosing firms.

CDP, the global non-profit managing the world's environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states, and regions, named Sherry Madera as Chief Executive Officer effective October 1, 2023. Madera is currently Senior Vice President of Public Policy at Mastercard and Chair of the Future of Sustainable Data Alliance (FoSDA). CDP uses capital markets to encourage voluntary environmental disclosure aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, safeguarding water resources, and protecting forests, having established the first global system for environmental disclosure.

The appointment affects the companies, cities, and financial institutions in CDP's disclosure ecosystem. In the previous year CDP received disclosures from over 18,700 companies, representing about 50% of global market capitalization, and more than 1,100 cities, states, and regions, in response to requests from over 740 financial institutions and 280 major purchasers. The 2023 disclosure period was scheduled to close at the end of July for scoring. CDP Trustees Chair Katherine Garrett-Cox cited Madera's experience in business, policy-making, and diplomacy.

Disclosing companies and stakeholders should monitor CDP's strategic direction under Madera, who emphasised the critical importance of data in measuring and managing climate actions and aims to strengthen CDP's position in the climate data ecosystem. Madera succeeds Paul Simpson, former CEO until June 2022, taking over from interim CEO Jamie Neil, who steps down on September 29, 2023. Indian companies reporting to CDP should track evolving data expectations as the organisation deepens its role in global climate policy.

Key figure — Disclosure base: over 18,700 companies, about 50% of global market capitalization