David Linich

For decades, PwC has supported clients in navigating complex challenges and, today, that legacy translates into a focus on helping businesses achieve their climate goals while securing enduring value. From measuring emissions to embedding sustainability into operations, the firm supports clients across sectors and maturity levels with a combination of strategic consulting, operational support and digital tools. 

David Linich leads PwC’s Decarbonisation and Sustainable Operations services in the US, bringing more than 20 years of experience to the role. For the past three years as partner, he has helped companies shift from climate intent to tangible implementation. He works closely with clients to measure their greenhouse gas emissions, forecast future impacts and define ambitious but achievable reduction targets. David’s approach is grounded in collaboration and clarity, helping organisations create realistic roadmaps and stay the course.

“A lot of our clients have been really focused on how the tariffs impact their business,” David says. “There’s still a large focus on understanding how we best optimise our business and our value chain based on potentially significant increases in costs to the input of the business.” That economic pressure is real, but it hasn’t slowed the momentum around climate action. “Many of them are still moving forward irrespective of the distraction that tariffs might impose,” he adds.

David expects the attention to shift more firmly back to sustainability and decarbonisation. He believes more companies will look outside their own operations to create impact. “I am expecting to see more of our clients focus on collaboration outside their four walls,” he explains. “I think there's an increased realisation that there's only so much we can do on our own.” That mindset change is essential. By working with suppliers, customers and even competitors, businesses can share insights, align incentives and make progress across the wider value chain.

Helping companies operate more efficiently and responsibly is central to David’s work. Before joining PwC, he spent five years in industry, where he led a division and managed a profit and loss account at a consumer and industrial product manufacturer. That frontline experience shaped how he thinks about value—it must hold up in practice, not just on paper. He also served on the executive team of a leading construction contractor, where he oversaw talent strategy and operational performance. Those roles gave him a clear view of how sustainability connects to performance, cost and resilience.

Now at PwC, David coordinates the firm’s sustainability services for industrial products clients across the US. He brings together technical knowledge, regulatory understanding and business strategy to create programmes that last.

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