ING appoints new Global Head of Sustainability
ING is pleased to announce that Léon Wijnands has been appointed Head of Sustainability for ING Group/ING Bank. Léon Wijnands, who starts his new role on 21 October, will lead the Sustainability department in further developing ING’s global sustainability efforts.
Léon succeeds Dailah Nihot, who was appointed Managing Director of Corporate Communications and Affairs for ING Insurance/Investment Management EurAsia on 1 June.
Léon Wijnands about sustainability
Léon has held various senior positions at ING, most recently as director of Sales & Service Call at ING Netherlands.
Léon Wijnands, Global Head of Sustainability
Léon has a track record in sustainability-related activities at ING. Between 2005 and 2009, he was chairman of ING Microfinance Support. From 2009, Léon took on the role of ING Sustainability ambassador and in 2011 he became a member of the board and treasurer of ING’s employee charity fund in the Netherlands.
Léon: “To me, sustainability means that we take into consideration what is most important to our stakeholders and society at large to ensure our business has a sustainable and positive impact. Thanks to ING’s strong focus in recent years on aligning our business interests with the interests of society, stakeholders are now recognising our sustainability achievements. The next challenge ahead of us is to further integrate sustainability criteria into our business activities and the products and services we offer – something ING is committed to doing.”
He continues: “I am very much looking forward to taking on this challenge in my new role.”
The Sustainability department
The department develops, manages and communicates ING’s global ethical, social and environmental strategy, engages in dialogue with customers, NGOs, sustainable investors and analysts, advises on issue management and advises business units on the development of sustainable products. In addition, the team leads company-wide efforts in the area of community investment, develops employee programmes and public-private partnerships and publishes the ING Group Sustainability Report.
Reporting lines
In respect of ING Group activities, Léon will report to the CEO of ING Group, Ralph Hamers. In respect of activities specifically for ING Bank, Léon will report to Hans van der Noordaa, on behalf of the Management Board Banking.