ICC announces new Vice-Chairs of Commission on Environment and Energy

  • 13 October 2014
ICC sustainable cities

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is pleased to announce the appointments of Lakshmanan Rajasekar and Gilles Vermot-Desroches as new Vice-Chairs of the ICC Commission on Energy and Environment.

Mr Rajasekar and Mr Vermot-Desroches will be working in close collaboration with the current Chair Kersten-Karl Barth, Sustainability Director Siemens, as well as the commission’s two existing Vice-Chairs Martina Bianchini, Adviser at Virtual Collaboration and Wendy Poulton, General Manager Organizational Strategy at Eskom.

Mr Rajasekar is Head of Technology and Sustainability at UltraTech Cement, India’s largest cement company and part of Aditya Birla Group, a multinational conglomerate. As such, he is responsible for technology and sustainability in cement business, including safety and energy issues, reduction in CO2 footprint, and use of alternate fuels. Mr Rajasekar is also Co-Chair of the Environment Committee and a member of the Climate Change Committee of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

“Global implementation of resource and energy efficient technologies and solutions are critical to the success of sustainable and inclusive growth,” said Mr Rajasekar. “I am therefore happy to join the officers of the Commission on Environment and Energy, which plays an important role in infusing the international debate with business views from emerging market economies.”

Mr Vermot-Desroches is Senior Vice-President Sustainability at Schneider Electric, a global leader in electricity distribution, automation and energy management. He oversees the definition and implementation of the company’s environmental, ethical and social policies, and awareness-raising activities towards Schneider Electric employees and other stakeholders on sustainable development issues. Mr Vermot-Desroches served as the president of an NGO and within a Minister cabinet in France. His various engagements include board membership in the French Global Compact network.

“I am honoured to be named Vice-Chair of the commission. For many decades, the ICC Commission on Environment and Energy has had a solid track record in the field of climate change and energy. The commission is ideally positioned to further advance the interests of its members in this crucial area, especially also in the forthcoming United Nations climate negotiations in Paris in 2015,” Mr Vermot-Desroches said.

The ICC Commission on Environment and Energy examines major environmental, energy and green economy policy issues of interest to world business by elaborating multi-sectorial business policy positions, and highlighting achievements and business solutions to sustainability issues. Moreover, commission members gain influence through ICC’s privileged links with major intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, United Nations Environment Programme, and United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

For more information, visit the ICC Commission on Energy and Environment.