Sherry Madera Takes Charge as CDP Chief Executive Officer

Sherry Madera has assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer at CDP, the global non-profit that operates the world's largest environmental disclosure system. Her appointment comes ahead of the UN General Assembly in September 2023 and COP28 in December, as momentum for mandatory environmental reporting accelerates worldwide.

Madera brings a career spanning investment banking, diplomacy, and public policy to the role. Before joining CDP she chaired the Future of Sustainable Data Alliance and served as Senior Vice President of Public Policy at Mastercard. Earlier positions include roles at the London Stock Exchange Group, the City of London, and the British Embassy in Beijing. She also served as a Non-Executive Director at Sondrel Limited and the University of Nottingham. Madera is the author of the forthcoming book on navigating sustainability data, due for release in January 2024.

The appointment arrives at a pivotal moment for corporate environmental transparency. Corporates, regulators, and scientists increasingly agree that robust environmental disclosure is essential for measuring progress toward net-zero and nature-positive goals. CDP's disclosure system covers companies, cities, states, and regions globally, making the CEO role a key position in shaping how environmental data flows to investors and policymakers. Madera's background in sustainable finance and public policy is seen as well suited to navigating this regulatory landscape.

Madera said she intends to drive more ambitious climate action by leveraging CDP's unique position in the environmental data ecosystem. She will oversee CDP's global leadership team across offices in the UK, Europe, North America, Singapore, Japan, China, and Latin America. Her leadership will be tested early, with COP28 in December 2023 expected to generate significant policy momentum and renewed calls for mandatory disclosure frameworks.

Key figure — COP28 December 2023 milestone