United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Nigeria’s Bola Adesola to serve as Vice-Chair of the Board of the UN Global Compact.  

Also appointed with Adesola is Paul Polman of the Netherlands, Chief Executive Officer of Unilever, to also serve as Vice-Chair of the Board of the UN body, the UN announced. Global Compact is a voluntary initiative based on Chief Executive Officers commitments to implement universal sustainability principles and to take steps to support UN goals. 

“The Secretary-General is pleased to confirm that Bola Adesola of Nigeria, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Standard Chartered Nigeria and Paul Polman of the Netherlands, Chief Executive Officer of Unilever, will serve as the two Vice-Chairs of the Board of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. Ms Adesola and Mr. Polman succeed out-going United Nations Global Compact Board Vice-Chair, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, Former Chairman of Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies and of Anglo American PLC. The Secretary-General extends his great appreciation to Sir Mark for serving in the position for the past 10 years and shepherding the United Nations Global Compact into a new era,” the UN said.