The Consulting Report is pleased to announce The Top 25 Sustainability Consultants and Leaders for 2024. As sustainability evolves from a compliance-driven mandate to a critical driver of innovation and growth, the market for sustainability consulting services is experiencing rapid expansion, with a forecasted five-year CAGR of 47.8%, expected to reach $64.8 billion by 2027. These leaders are at the forefront of transforming how companies approach sustainability, positioning it as a core strategy for long-term success.
As consumer preferences increasingly favor environmentally friendly products and services and investors demand stronger ESG performance, businesses that embrace sustainability stand to gain significant competitive advantages. These consultants play a crucial role in this transformation—guiding complex energy transitions, integrating sustainable practices into supply chains and operations, and helping organizations manage and respond to ESG data with precision. By aligning business success with environmental stewardship, these leaders are making strides toward a healthier planet and a more sustainable future for all.
Among this year’s awardees, Jennifer Steinmann, Global Sustainability and Climate Practice Leader at Deloitte, is recognized for her leadership in driving cross-business sustainability initiatives that embed environmental strategies at the core of organizational operations. Velislava Ivanova, EY’s Americas Chief Sustainability Officer and Global Strategy and Markets Leader, stands out for her visionary approach to developing and implementing sustainability strategies across diverse sectors. Susan Kenniston, Global Head and VP of Sustainability at Wipro, is noted for her expertise in expanding and scaling global sustainability practices.
This year’s awardees were selected through a methodical evaluation process and thorough consideration of each candidate’s contributions to advancing both their organizations and sustainable impact as a whole. Please join us in recognizing The Top 25 Sustainability Consultants and Leaders of 2024.
1. Alison Kennedy
Firm: Accenture
Title: Senior Managing Director, Head of Sustainability
Alison Kennedy is the Singapore-based Senior Managing Director and Head of Sustainability at Accenture, a global professional services company that helps businesses, governments, and organizations build their digital core, optimize operations, accelerate revenue growth, and enhance citizen services.
2. Christopher LeWand
Firm: FTI Consulting
Title: Senior Managing Director
Chris LeWand is the Global Power, Renewables and Energy Transition (PRET) practice leader at FTI Consulting and a member of FTI Capital Advisors. He has extensive experience leading projects in conventional and renewable power, fuel sources, and enabling technologies such as advanced mobility, clean fuels, software, storage, and broader infrastructure. LeWand specializes in capital and M&A advisory, strategic and financial planning, business transformation and restructuring, dispute advisory and valuation, interim management, and merger integration planning and execution.
Under his leadership, the FTI PRET team has completed over 800 projects, including key developments in the renewables sector over the past 15 years. He has assisted numerous clients in developing and implementing clean energy and energy transition oriented business models, including foreign and domestic entrants seeking to consider macro competitive, regulatory and general market dynamics as well as situation and entity specific factors where key levers of challenge and success required careful analysis and consideration in order to drive optionality and optimized results.
LeWand holds certifications and licenses as a CPA, CFA, ABV, CIRA, and CTP, and has FINRA Series 7, 63, and 79 licenses. He has served on boards, acted as a board advisor, and held interim management roles such as CEO, CFO, CRO, and Private Equity Fund MD for multi-billion dollar enterprises. His consulting and advisory services are informed by his hands-on experience, ensuring a deep understanding of the accountability and rigor required to achieve successful outcomes.
3. Velislava Ivanova
Firm: EY
Title: Chief Sustainability Officer and the Global Strategy and Markets Leader
Dr. Velislava Ivanova is the EY Americas Chief Sustainability Officer and the Global Strategy and Markets Leader for EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services practice. She is a recognized sustainability expert with over 25 years of international experience in developing and delivering sustainability strategies for multinational corporations across sectors such as energy, manufacturing, retail, consumer goods, and pharmaceuticals. Dr. Ivanova works closely with senior executives in large, complex organizations to set sustainability goals, improve business performance, and embed sustainable practices across value chains and products.
In her role at EY, Dr. Ivanova leads the strategic direction and growth of EY’s sustainability services globally, overseeing a team of nearly 5,000 professionals dedicated to sustainability. She focuses on developing innovative solutions, sector strategies, and go-to-market efforts, as well as enhancing digital enablement and delivery methodologies. Additionally, she manages EY’s engagement with sustainability partners and alliances.
Dr. Ivanova regularly collaborates with leading sustainability organizations such as CDP, WEF, SBTi, and UNGC, and serves as the EY Liaison Delegate at the WBCSD. She is a frequent speaker at sustainability forums and has published thought leadership on topics including sustainability strategy, sustainable supply chains, climate and natural capital, and sustainability reporting. She holds a PhD and a master’s degree from the University of Manchester, as well as a master’s degree from the University of Sofia in Bulgaria. Dr. Ivanova has been recognized among the Top 25 Sustainability Consultants and Leaders in 2022 and 2023 by The Consulting Report.
4. Thibaut Millet
Firm: EY
Title: Partner, Climate Change and Sustainability Services
Thibaut Millet is a Partner in the Climate Change and Sustainability practice at EY, with over 24 years of management consulting experience. A pioneer in integrating sustainability into business strategy, he began helping clients develop and implement sustainability transformation programs as early as 2005.
Throughout his career, Thibaut has been a trusted advisor to leading clients across various sectors, including power and utilities, manufacturing, mining and metals, transportation, financial services, pension funds, large asset owners, consumer products, and retail. He led EY's Climate Change and Sustainability services team for many years, growing it into one of Canada's largest and most successful groups of dedicated sustainability practitioners.
Currently, Thibaut focuses on helping boards navigate the complex impacts of climate change and improve their climate-conscious governance practices. He leads EY Canada's efforts to provide advisory services and tailored educational experiences for corporate directors, emphasizing practical insights to operationalize effective climate governance and fostering long-term climate stewardship.
5. Hasan Shafi
Firm: EY-Parthenon
Title: Partner
Hasan Shafi is a leader in EY-Parthenon’s energy strategy, energy transition and sustainability related services in the MENA region. Shafi has 25+ years of professional experience across strategy consulting and industry, with deep experience in energy, resources, chemicals and asset intensive industrial sectors. While home is in Sydney, Australia, Shafi has consulted to clients in the Middle East, Australia – New Zealand and SE Asian countries.
Shafi has been focusing on topics related to energy transition, sustainability, decarbonization, ESG, low carbon technologies - e.g. hydrogen, CCS, energy storage, sustainable fuels, circularity. He is interested in bringing together business strategy, sustainability, and technology (in particular AI) to create distinctive, competitive advantage for companies. Functionally, Hasan has also helped clients develop and execute growth and value creating strategies, develop investment strategies, execute end to end M&A programs, and drive performance improvement initiatives.
Prior to EY-Parthenon, he was a Partner with Kearney in Asia Pacific, Principal with Bain & Company in Australia, and mostly recently Partner with Arthur D. Little in the MENA region. Shafi also worked as a senior executive for a global, listed chemicals company from Australia, responsible for corporate strategy, planning and global M&A. Hasan started his career as a Schlumberger engineer and spent time as a Defence Scientist in Australia. Shafi has a PhD in Mechanical and BSc in Aeronautical in engineering, as well as an MBAE degree from University of Michigan, USA.
6. Meghan Harris-Ngae
Firm: PwC Canada
Title: Partner and National Leader
Meghan Harris-Ngae is a Partner and National Leader of PwC Canada’s ESG Strategy Integration and Transformation practice. She is also PwC’s Global Leader of Sustainability for Private Business. In both roles, Harris-Ngae advises executives and boards on developing integrated and practical sustainability strategies that drive value for business and enable long-term resilience.
Harris-Ngae’s leadership in sustainability was built over 22 years after starting her career in the energy sector, before moving internationally to work with multinational organizations based in the UK on their ESG strategies. Her dynamic experience building and mentoring teams of professionals, authoring thought leadership, and working with companies across all sectors has positioned her as a recognized global leader in the field.
Prior to joining PwC, Harris-Ngae was a Partner and leader who developed EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy practice. She also served as the firm’s Global ESG Leader for Mining and Metals. Harris-Ngae spent 13 years enabling the growth and development of a team of practitioners and practice that doubled in size during her tenure. Harris-Ngae has a degree in international relations from the University of Calgary and has completed the Harvard Leadership Program and the Corporate Social Responsibility Program at the Harvard Business School.
7. Anthony DeCandido
Firm: RSM US
Title: Partner
As RSM’s US ESG Leader, Anthony DeCandido heads a cross-functional team that supports companies across various industries—including financial services, manufacturing, and consumer goods—on critical ESG and sustainability issues. DeCandido has over 19 years of assurance and advisory experience serving both domestic and global companies, including having supported companies in front-end strategy development, technology, as well as pre-audit, audit and risk compliance.
DeCandido is a leading business voice in ESG regulatory matters and participates in both the AICPA and Center of Audit Quality Sustainability Task Forces. He has prepared research around ESG and sustainability which is featured within RSM’s Insights library and has played a prominent role in researching and authoring articles on regulatory reporting adoption topics, along with insights for collecting, measuring, and communicating performance. DeCandido also serves as executive sponsor on RSM's climate change steering committee, which is an ongoing project that culminates with RSM’s annual impact report.
As a lead advisor within RSM’s ESG Advisory practice, DeCandido guides companies and boards of directors through ESG and climate strategy, scenario analysis, data collection, technology implementation, and reporting and communications. DeCandido has worked with dozens of firms to develop ESG policies and procedures and has developed RSM’s proprietary rapid assessment methodology which caters to companies beginning their ESG program, as well as supporting advanced companies though a total return on investment methodology, which is a deeply quantitative analysis that correlates changes in ESG behaviors to improved financial and nonfinancial business results. DeCandido graduated from Loyola University Maryland with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
8. Jamie Stone
Firm: PA Consulting
Title: Partner
Jamie Stone is a leader in the Design, Sustainability, and Innovation business for PA Consulting. With over 25 years of experience in both agency and client-side roles, Stone has served as the global head of design for major FMCG and Consumer Health companies. He has extensive expertise in branding and packaging design, building brand loyalty, crafting consumer stories, and innovating with new packaging materials. Stone also has a deep understanding of the supply chain, enabling him to design margin accretive products in complex matrix systems.
Over the past decade, Stone has concentrated heavily on sustainable packaging, establishing himself as a leading expert in plastic replacement materials and strategies for creating truly circular packaging solutions. Before joining PA Consulting, Jamie was the Global Head of Design at GSK Consumer Healthcare, now Haleon, and previously served as a Partner and Head of Design at The Brewery Design. Earlier in his career, he worked with P&G as a Design Manager. Jamie holds a degree in design for industry from Northumbria University.
9. Anthony Perrotta
Firm: PA Consulting
Title: Partner
Anthony Perrotta is a Partner at PA Consulting, where he works with clients on growth strategy, sustainability, and regenerative economy initiatives aiming to assist clients, governments, and organizations in advancing beyond Net Zero goals. Tony has more than 25 years of experience in sales leadership, FMCG/CPG/retail, and sustainability and innovation.
Perrotta also serves as business lead responsible for accelerating commercialization and scale-up of new technologies to reduce dependence on single use plastics. A recent example of this effort is the development of two cross industry collectives aimed at using dry molded fiber to replace single use bottles and pharmaceutical packaging. His team led the Diageo Paper-based Bailey’s Mini launch, a key initiative in this area.
Previously, Perrotta was the Global Head of Sales and Chief Revenue Officer at Plastic Bank, a blockchain-enabled social impact company. He also serves on multiple advisory boards, advising on fund raises, shaping revenue maps, market narratives, and actionable plans for startups focused on waste to value conversion, SaaS-enabled food safety and compliance, and social impact.
10. Susan Kenniston
Firm: Wipro
Title: Global Head and VP of Sustainability
Susan Kenniston is the Global Head and VP of Sustainability at Wipro, with over 30 years of experience in building and delivering solutions for some of the world’s leading brands. At Wipro, she has expanded and scaled the global sustainability practice, the Wipro Impact brand, and integrated sustainability services and solutions.
With nearly 15 years dedicated to sustainability, Susan has become a thought leader and visionary in the field. She specializes in the intersection of sustainability and technology, driving strategic and impactful reductions and improvements to operationalize responsible business practices. Susan’s extensive background includes experience in strategy and operations, data and analytics, supply chains, and enterprise architecture across sectors such as telecommunications, high tech, footwear and apparel, and technology consulting.
In 2023, Susan was recognized as one of The Top 25 Consulting Leaders by The Consulting Report. She has provided thought leadership at various forums, offering insights on how digital transformation can mitigate climate change. Additionally, she has contributed to whitepapers on sustainable technology, impact intelligence, and sustainable airports, among other topics.
11. Anuj Shah
Firm: Stax
Title: Managing Director and the Head of ESG and Impact Advisory
Anuj Shah is a Managing Director and the Head of ESG and Impact Advisory at Stax, a global management consulting firm, where he advises private asset managers, corporations, and investment banks on value enhancing approaches to ESG integration, sustainability strategy, and impact outcomes. The firm partners with its clients to provide data-driven, actionable insights designed to drive growth, enhance profits, increase value, and make better investment decisions.
Shah was previously a Partner at Close Group Consulting and KKS Advisors, both boutique ESG advisory firms, and was the Founder and Managing Director of Linear Impact Partners, a company that developed customized business development solutions for responsible investments. Prior to founding Linear Impact Partners, Shah spent nearly 20 years in the investment management industry, working at Bankers Trust, Lehman Brothers, and Morgan Stanley, where he held the role of Head of Strategy and Business Management for the Private Wealth Management business unit.
With 25 years of combined experience in capital markets and responsible investing, Shah offers a unique perspective on ESG and impact, with a strong emphasis on the business case. He holds a master’s degree in international affairs with concentrations in international financial business and South Asia from Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Boston College.
12. Jennifer Steinmann
Firm: Deloitte
Title: Global Sustainability and Climate Practice Leader
Jennifer Steinmann is the Deloitte Global Sustainability Business Leader, providing cross-business leadership to make an impact that matters and drive critical changes around some of the most important challenges organizations face. She is a member of Deloitte’s senior leadership team and for more than 25 years has held various leadership positions at Deloitte, including Deloitte US Chief Talent Officer and Deloitte US Deputy CEO.
Steinmann has also served on the Board of Directors for Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and the Deloitte Foundation. Steinmann was also previously Deloitte’s US Chief Transformation Officer, leading strategy, innovation, and technology. Steinmann teamed with Deloitte’s businesses to set the organization’s strategic direction, address strategic issues and opportunities facing the firm, and evaluate changes in the business and competitive environment.
Steinmann is dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and improving communities. She was the founding sponsor of several Deloitte programs that drive positive social impact such as Courageous Principals and the CORE Leadership Program. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and an MBA from the Columbia School of Business.
13. Graeme Riddell
Firm: Marsh
Title: Climate and Sustainability Consulting Leader, Asia
Graeme is the Climate and Sustainability Consulting Leader within Marsh Advisory for Asia and the Pacific and co-leads the Marsh Centre for Climate Adaptation and Resilience Excellence (CCARE). Graeme supports clients across all sectors to understand and adapt to their emerging climate and ESG risks, leading a team of engineers, strategy consultants, climate scientists, and actuaries. Graeme led the establishment of the practice in Asia, expanding the team to now support clients across 13 countries. His work with CCARE goes beyond traditional consulting, focusing on enhancing access to capital both through insurance products and facilitating adaptation finance.
Prior to joining Marsh, Graeme was a Consultant at the World Bank, where he worked on climate and disaster resilience projects, including rapid post-disaster damage estimation. Previously, he held consulting and academic roles focused on modeling of physical climate risk in Australia and supporting public sector decision-making. Graeme holds a PhD and bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from The University of Adelaide.
14. Subramanian Kuppuswami
Firm: Tata Consultancy Services
Title: Global Head, BFSI Sustainability
Subramanian (Subi) Kuppuswami is the Global Head of Sustainability for TCS's BFSI business group. He specializes in the intersection of sustainability, ESG, business, and technology. Subi has played a key role in launching a greenfield strategic growth initiative on sustainable finance, where he established a unique perspective on "Greening Finance" and "Financing Green," and developed tailored solutions to meet the rapidly evolving demands in this area.
Subi also holds a US patent for a "Method and System for Sustainability Measurement" (US11915506) and was instrumental in conceptualizing and developing an industry-recognized cloud-native ESG Integration suite. This suite enables financial institutions to have a transparent view of the ESG impacts of their assets and investments. A recognized thought leader in sustainability, ESG, and sustainable IT, Subi also mentors a team of young ESG professionals who support global customers in their sustainability and ESG transformation programs.
With over two decades of global sales, solution development, and technology experience in banking and financial services, Subi's expertise in ESG and ClimateTech is widely acknowledged for creating focused solutions to address complex business challenges.
15. Mark Watson
Firm: Teneo
Title: Senior Managing Director and Head of ESG Advisory
Mark Watson is the Senior Managing Director and Head of ESG Advisory (APAC) at Teneo, the global CEO advisory firm. With over 25 years of experience in the sustainability arena, Watson has worked across professional services, government, industry, and international development. He specializes in providing high-level counsel to corporate boards and senior leadership teams, guiding ESG strategy, performance, disclosure, and communications.
Watson has advised companies on a wide range of sustainability issues, including material environmental risks such as climate change, water, energy, and waste, as well as social challenges. He has also overseen initiatives related to external ESG investor ratings, performance, and green finance.
Before joining Teneo, Watson was the Global Head of Sustainability at John Swire and Sons (HK) Ltd, the holding company for the Swire Group, a diverse conglomerate focused on the Greater China region. He has also served as Head of Environmental Affairs at Cathay Pacific, Head of Corporate Environmental Affairs at SBAC, and Policy Advisor at the Energy Retail Association. Watson holds a PhD and an undergraduate degree in geography from the University of London.
16. Vic Svec
Firm: Alvarez and Marsal
Title: Managing Director
Vic Svec is a Managing Director with Alvarez and Marsal's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Services practice in Chicago, specializing in ESG analysis and strategy. A&M is a global professional services firm known for providing advisory, business performance improvement, and turnaround management services.
17. Jenny Brusgul
Firm: CohnReznick
Title: Managing Director
Jenny Brusgul is the Managing Director of CohnReznick LLP, a firm that provides clients with forward-thinking advice to navigate complex business and financial issues. With more than 2,500 employees nationwide, CohnReznick offers the resources, technical skills, and deep industry knowledge to help clients succeed.
18. Elizabeth Sloan
Firm: Grant Thornton LLP
Title: Managing Director
Elizabeth Sloan is a Managing Director in Grant Thornton's ESG and Sustainability Services Practice. Sloan focuses on developing a high-quality methodology in the dynamic ESG regulatory environment, ensuring clients receive the valuable ESG information they and their stakeholders need. She actively participates in various task forces and working groups within the profession, both domestically and internationally, to stay ahead of emerging trends.
19. Martijn Eikelenboom
Firm: Arthur D. Little
Title: Managing Partner
Martijn Eikelenboom is the Managing Partner of Arthur D. Little Netherlands and the global Head of the firm’s Sustainability Strategy practice. He is also a senior leader in the Strategy and Organization and Technology and Innovation Management global practices. Arthur D. Little is a management consultancy that connects strategy, innovation, and technology to drive success for its clients.
20. John Blasberg
Firm: Bain and Company
Title: Partner
John Blasberg is a leader of Bain and Company’s Americas Sustainability practice and the Global Food Systems Transformation initiative. Bain and Company is a global consultancy that works with clients in 65 cities across 40 countries to achieve success. With over 20 years of management consulting experience, Blasberg has collaborated with numerous consumer products management teams to drive major corporate transformations.
21. Nikhil Ati
Firm: McKinsey and Company
Title: Partner
Nikhil Ati is a Partner in McKinsey and Company’s Houston office, where he leads the firm’s work on decarbonization in the energy, chemicals, and materials industries across North America. He helps clients implement decarbonization transformations at both asset and company levels, launch zero-carbon products, establish decarbonization hubs, and develop energy-transition strategies. McKinsey and Company is a global management consulting firm, serving as a trusted advisor to leading businesses, governments, and institutions worldwide.
22. Alex Hindson
Firm: Crowe UK
Title: Partner and Head of Sustainability
Alex Hindson is a Partner at Crowe UK, specializing in sustainability, risk governance, and climate risk. He helps build purpose-led, long-term sustainable businesses that can secure ESG-related opportunities while managing reputational and regulatory threats. Crowe UK, an independent member of Crowe Global, is a leading audit, tax, advisory, and risk firm with a national presence and international reach.
23. Rupal Kantaria
Firm: Oliver Wyman
Title: Partner
Rupal Kantaria is a Partner at the Oliver Wyman Forum, where she brings together the public and private sectors to solve global challenges. Oliver Wyman is a global leader in management consulting, with offices in more than 70 cities across 30 countries. The firm combines deep industry knowledge with specialized expertise in strategy, operations, risk management, and organizational transformation.
24. Vincent Charpiot
Firm: Capgemini
Title: EVP, Head of Group Sustainability Business Accelerator
Vincent Charpiot is the EVP and Head of Group Sustainability Business Accelerator at Capgemini, a global business and technology transformation partner that helps organizations accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world.
25. Varchala Abrol
Firm: World Wide Technology
Title: Vice President, Global Sustainability and EH&S
Varchala Abrol is the Vice President of Global Sustainability and EH&S at World Wide Technology (WWT), a global technology solutions provider. Founded in 1990, WWT generates $20 billion in annual revenue and combines strategy, execution, and partnership to accelerate digital transformation for large public and private organizations worldwide.
