Gaia Human Capital Consultants Places Three Sustainability Leaders
September 22, 2022 – San Francisco-based Gaia Human Capital Consultants has recently placed three key sustainability leaders for three clients, NYSERDA (the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority), A.O. Smith Corp., and Sabert Corp. Dawn Dzurilla, founder and managing partner, and Zoë Van Schyndel, partner, led the assignments for the search firm.
At NYSERDA, which promotes energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources, Susanne DesRoches was appointed the new leader of the building decarbonization program. Ms. DesRoches serves as vice president of clean and resilient buildings and a key member of NYSERDA’s executive team that helps ensure that NYSERDA’s portfolio of work to decarbonize New York’s economy is successful and delivers benefits equitably to all residents of New York State.
“New York and California are leading the nation in the fight on global climate change and the urgent transition to a clean energy economy,” said Ms. Dzurilla. “Susanne and her colleagues at NYSERDA are aggressively advancing a portfolio of innovative solutions and interventions to scale and accelerate the adoption of clean energy, energy efficiency and the next frontier – the decarbonization and electrification in buildings in the state of New York.”
Heads of Sustainability
At A.O. Smith., a global leader in water heating and water treatment, Noelle Brigham was appointed director of environmental, social, and governance (ESG). She will lead and drive all aspects of the ESG initiatives while developing a long-term strategy for the company’s global commitments and strategy in this field. “Noelle’s extensive experience in the ESG space will prove invaluable as we continue A. O. Smith’s efforts to blend our business and sustainability goals,” said Chuck Lauber, A. O. Smith executive vice president and chief financial officer. “Underpinning our corporate values is a commitment to sustainability and we are proud to welcome Noelle to lead this critical initiative as her singular focus.”
At Sabert Corp., a leading global manufacturer of innovative and sustainable food packaging products and solutions, Rebecca Locker was appointed director of global sustainability. Dr. Locker will champion Sabert’s sustainability and ESG mission by being an advocate with manufacturing, sales and marketing, product development, and Sabert’s customer base.
“Dr. Locker is a brilliant combination of dedicated scientist and intentional sustainability leader,” said Ms. Dzurilla. “She is well positioned to lead Sabert’s efforts to reduce its overall carbon footprint, be a thought leader and the voice for sustainability within and outside of Sabert.”
Launched in 2007, Gaia Human Capital Consultants is a boutique executive search consulting practice, focused exclusively on serving clients in the ESG/ sustainability, clean technology, renewable energy, decarbonization, and green economy. Gaia partners with organizations at all stages of development. Bringing over 25 years of executive search experience to each client engagement, Gaia has completed C-suite, divisional management, subject matter expert searches and built teams for entrepreneurial start-ups through early-stage to growth-stage to multinational corporates and financial institutions.
Green Economy Focused
Ms. Dzurilla works at the nexus of executive search, talent leadership, and talent acquisition in The Green Economy. She brings over 25 years of executive search, talent management, and talent acquisition experience, and has conducted searches for CEOs, CXOs, directors, divisional leaders, and subject matter experts for transformative, disruptive and impactful technology companies, investment and services, cleantech, renewable energy, environmental sustainability and private equity impact investors, financial institutions and information technology companies, higher educational, and non-profit organizations.
Ms. Van Schyndel has been involved with Gaia Human Capital Consultants since its founding, when she originally spearheaded the practice’s Green Employee Benefits program. She partners with a broad array of organizations and institutions in pursuit of senior sustainability, ESG, and C-level leadership talent. A chartered financial analyst (CFA), Ms. Van Schyndel leads the firm’s ESG investment executive search practice. She works with a wide range of client financial institutions, investment management, and wealth management company leaders. Ms. Van Schyndel conducts assignments for public and private investors, including pension funds, endowments, and foundations seeking to create positive, meaningful impact and to increasingly make their investments towards sustainability-focused companies.
Related: Perdue Farms Taps Gaia for Sustainability Chief
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
