Nannette LaFond-Dufour will lead Publicis Groupe as its new Chief Impact Officer.

This is a new global role created to focus on the company's long-term environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals.

LaFond-Dufour brings a wealth of experience to Publicis. Throughout her 30-year career, she's been a leader in the industry. At McCann Worldgroup, she served as both Chief Client Officer and their first Chief Sustainability Officer. There, she led efforts to reduce the company's environmental impact worldwide.

In her new role, LaFond-Dufour will lead a central team that works with Publicis' ESG teams around the world. Together, they will develop a clear and effective strategy to achieve their ESG goals. This will include improving existing initiatives and launching new ones, all designed to benefit both Publicis' employees and clients.

LaFond-Dour's appointment highlights Publicis' ongoing commitment to positive environmental and social change. The company has consistently ranked first in the industry by leading ESG rating agencies. They were also the only holding company in their sector to be featured in the S&P Yearbook, which recognises businesses for their sustainability efforts. Also, Publicis has rallied over 1500 major companies through their Working with Cancer Pledge to fight workplace stigma surrounding the disease.

LaFond-Dour will report directly to Arthur Sadoun, Chairman & CEO, and join the Groupe's Management Committee. She will also work closely with Agathe Bousquet, President of Publicis France, who oversees ESG efforts for the company.

“With the Directoire+ we are delighted to welcome Nannette to the Groupe” said Arthur Sadoun. “Thanks to our transformation, we have been outperforming the industry on every business and financial KPI for the past four years. But we know that for our growth to be truly sustainable, on every front, it also needs to be responsible. That’s why we have also worked to lead the way through our best-in-class ESG initiatives. With Nannette on board and her proven expertise in delivering impactful change with some of the world’s biggest companies, we are confident we can take our ESG agenda even further, faster, for the good of our people, our clients, and our planet.“

"I deeply admire the work that Publicis has done to transform itself, demonstrating both the ability to anticipate the future, and do the hard work required to prepare for it through tangible environmental and societal commitments. At this moment when evolution is the mandate on every front, I look forward to joining such a visionary, courageous and agile team" added Nannette LaFond-Dufour.

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Source: Publicis Groupe