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HSBC appoints environmental adviser
26 November 2003
In a development which underscores its long-standing commitment to the environment, HSBC has appointed Francis Sullivan, currently Director of Conservation at WWF-UK, as Adviser on the Environment. Francis Sullivan will join HSBC on secondment for an initial period of two years, with effect from February 2004.
In his new role Francis will provide practical advice and technical expertise across the whole range of HSBC’s direct and indirect impacts on the environment. He will work particularly closely with colleagues working in other areas of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and with Group Credit and Risk, Group Compliance, Group Property and Group Training. He will also act as the focal point for HSBC’s engagement with environmentally-interested parties.
Francis Sullivan has performed a number of roles in WWF over the last 16 years having worked for WWF-International, and WWF-Netherlands as well as WWF-UK. During this time he has worked extensively with business and industry and has a track record in delivering practical solutions.
HSBC has been active in environmental matters for many years. In Hong Kong, where it has had an association with WWF since 1985, HSBC helped to set up the Centre for Environmental Technology in 1987 and in 1988 HSBC was a founder member of the Private Sector Committee on the Environment. In 1992 HSBC became a founder signatory of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Statement by Financial Institutions on the Environment and Sustainable Development. In 2001 it became a corporate member of the United Nations Global Compact which covers three areas, labour standards, human rights and environmental responsibility. In September this year HSBC adopted the Equator Principles, a set of voluntary guidelines developed by major international banks, that address the environmental and social issues that arise in financing projects.
The appointment of Francis Sullivan will increase the impact of the partnership between WWF and HSBC which includes the 5 year Investing in Nature partnership between HSBC, WWF, Earthwatch and Botanic Gardens Conservation International.
Notes:
Investing in Nature
Investing in Nature is a US$50 million, five-year partnership funded by HSBC, working with Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Earthwatch and WWF. Launched in February 2002, Investing in Nature will protect 20,000 plant species from extinction, breathe life into some of the world’s major rivers, and send scientists and HSBC fieldworkers around the world.
For more information, please visit www.hsbc.com/investinginnature
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