Wolters Kluwer Names Maria Montenegro CEO of Corporate Performance and ESG Division

Professional services and information solutions firm Wolters Kluwer has appointed Maria Montenegro as CEO of its Corporate Performance and ESG division, which provides integrated financial, operational, and ESG performance management solutions for corporations and banks. Montenegro previously served as Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Wolters Kluwer after a career in strategy and transformation consulting at McKinsey and Company.

Montenegro has been at Wolters Kluwer for four years, most recently serving as Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer. Prior to joining the firm, she advised global corporations on portfolio strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and technology transformation at McKinsey. Wolters Kluwer launched its Corporate Performance and ESG division in early 2023, bringing together four enterprise software businesses to create a single unit focused on integrated financial, operational, and ESG performance management and reporting.

The appointment follows the departure of Karen Abramson, who led the CP and ESG division since its formation in 2023. The incoming CEO of Wolters Kluwer, Stacey Caywood, said the CP and ESG market is a key strategic priority and that the division is well-positioned to pursue global growth in cloud-based, AI-enabled enterprise software. The ESG performance management software market is expanding rapidly as regulatory requirements in Europe, the UK and other jurisdictions drive demand for integrated reporting solutions.

Montenegro's appointment reflects Wolters Kluwer's continued commitment to the corporate ESG software segment at a time when the landscape is becoming more competitive. The CP and ESG division serves corporate customers across the globe, and the incoming CEO is expected to bring vision and leadership to expand the firm's cloud and AI capabilities. The division's integrated approach — spanning financial and ESG performance data — positions it to address growing client demand for unified reporting under frameworks such as CSRD and ISSB standards.

Key figure — 4 years at Wolters Kluwer