Inside the Mind of JLR's Newly-Appointed CSO Andrea Debbane

Motoring industry royalty Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced the appointment of its new Chief Sustainability Officer, Andrea Debbane.

Andrea, who since August has served as the company's Executive Director of Strategy and Sustainability, will now be part of JLR's Executive Leadership Team as it navigates perhaps the most pivotal phase of its long and illustrious existence.

In a personal social media post, Andrea expressed her excitement about the new position: "As we are entering a critical phase in our transition to electrification as part of our Reimagine transformation, it is important now more than ever to treat sustainability as a value, not a topic."

Andrea's history in sustainability

Andrea's passion for sustainability was not always a planned career path. "I've been in the area of sustainability for about 15 years, and to be very honest, I entered it by chance," she told Sustainability Magazine at Sustainability LIVE London 2024.

"Once I got into that space, I loved it. I haven't left because I really see it as an area where it is just growing, where ideas, innovations just keep moving us forward."

The diverse, cross-sectoral nature of sustainability is partly what drew her to the field.

She continues: "It also means that you're in a space where you work with other sectors. You have to work with governments, you have to work with NGOs, you have to work with the general public. And within your own company, you work across all of the functions."

What is in Andrea's in-tray as JLR's new CSO?

Andrea's appointment comes amid JLR's push to achieve net zero emissions by 2039 and she is ready to help JLR explore all kinds of avenues on that journey.

"I think the whole energy transition is exciting because there are so many different pathways to clean energy," she says. "Whether that's in solar electrification, hydrogen nuclear fusion — it's just fascinating and it's accelerating so fast."

While some execs around the world are softening their focus on ESG, it is still a guiding light for Andrea.

"With my team and the support of our global colleagues, we will continue to transform JLR with the aim of creating a new benchmark in environmental, societal and community impact for business," she says.

Executive insights from Sustainability LIVE London 2024

At Sustainability LIVE London 2024, Andrea reinforced her belief in the power of connectivity and collaboration, but also in her advocation for transformation within her industry.

She expects big changes in the way mobility is delivered to the public in the coming years.

"It's moving fast, so there'll be a transformation" she says. "Transformation in our vehicles and in the technology that will be integrated into our vehicles.

"It's also a transformation in terms of our services and the way that mobility will be sold and used by the public. It's a very exciting place to be."

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