SBTi CEO Luiz Amaral Steps Down After Growing Validated Companies Fivefold

Dr Luiz Amaral announced his resignation as CEO of the Science Based Targets initiative in July 2024 for personal reasons, with Susan Jenny Ehr stepping in as interim CEO. Dr Amaral's tenure saw the number of companies with validated science-based targets grow more than fivefold to over 5,500.

Dr Luiz Amaral informed the SBTi Board of his intention to step down effective at the end of July 2024. His resignation follows personal circumstances requiring his full attention. Susan Jenny Ehr, previously Chief Legal Officer of SBTi, was appointed interim CEO with dedicated Board support. A recruitment process for a permanent CEO began immediately. Dr Amaral will remain available to support the leadership transition during the changeover period.

During Dr Amaral's tenure, SBTi transformed from an informal multi-stakeholder initiative into an incorporated independent organisation with transparent governance structures. The number of companies with validated targets rose more than fivefold to over 5,500, with a further 3,200 formally committed to the validation process. Major growth was achieved outside Europe and North America, particularly in Asia. SBTi also began the full separation of its standard development and target validation service functions—a structural change intended to improve governance and scalability.

SBTi Chair Francesco Starace paid tribute to Dr Amaral's leadership and dedication, stating that SBTi achieved incredible growth and structural evolution under his stewardship. Starace confirmed that the organisation's work will continue under interim CEO Ehr while the permanent recruitment process is under way. Dr Amaral expressed confidence in SBTi's continued impact, stating that the organisation is positioned well for its next phase of global growth and deeper penetration of corporate climate action.

Key figure — Over 5,500 companies with validated science-based targets at Dr Amaral's departure