As more organisations embrace their purpose beyond profit a new era of C-suite executives has emerged, with the job titles to match. These roles are designed to ensure that organisations aren’t just being profitable, they’re also being ethical and values-driven. Here are six emerging roles that we hope to see a lot more of.

Director of Circularity

Most businesses are trying to figure out how they can become more sustainable, and increasing circularity is an excellent place to start. A circular business is actively designing out waste and pollution and keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible.

What do they do?

• Set long term strategy for the company. Circularity is all about thinking in the long term in order to phase out waste and increase sustainability of products, services and practices. 
• Have strong leadership skills. The ability to navigate a team through potentially uncharted waters is an important part of the role. 
• Problem solving creatively. Advising on new initiatives and policies that reduce waste and increase long term sustainability is key. 
• Be analytical. While problem solving and creativity is important, being able to switch to a more logical and pragmatic approach is crucial. 

Which organisations are leading the way? 

• Google
• Cisco
• Walmart
• Accenture 
• Anthesis 

In their own words…

“It’s the ability to take a lot of complexity and pull it together into something that makes a compelling case, to the right people, for what needs to be done and how it will bring value to the business and support their specific goals.”

Katie Schindall, Director of Circular Economy at Cisco

Head of Global Corporate Citizenship

Companies are increasingly facing calls to ensure that their business decisions take into account everyone who those decisions will affect – from employees to local communities. Corporate citizenship programmes allow organisations to directly involve all of the stakeholders who will be impacted. It’s a way for a business to reinvest value back into the world, and build value for themselves by enhancing trust and building relationships with communities and consumers. 

What do they do?

• Create programs that increase collaboration with communities. Involving the business in the communities and stakeholders around them is a core responsibility in this role. 
• Improve company reputation. By connecting with consumers, communities and stakeholders, Head of Global Corporate Citizenship can change how individuals think of a business. 
• Ensure ethical business practices. Advising on policies and strategies that ensure the business operates as ethically as possible. 
• Have strong people skills. While problem solving and analysis are crucial, excellent people skills are also foundational to fostering a strong sense of civic responsibility in business. 

Which organisations are leading the way?

• Accenture 
• Esteé Lauder 
• Bank of America 
• IBM
• Warner Bros.–Discovery 

In their own words…

“We face both enormous challenges and huge opportunities. It’s never been more important to deliver success that’s shared and grounded in strong values and business ethics.”

Jill Huntley is Head of Global Corporate Citizenship at Accenture

Chief Wellbeing Officer

Comprehensive wellbeing has never felt more important in the workplace than in our current post-pandemic climate. Awareness about physical health, burnout, anxiety, chronic stress and work-life balance has skyrocketed, and many businesses are waking up to the fact that employee wellbeing is not just an individual problem but a systemic one. 

What do they do?

• Develop a workplace culture that fosters engagement and professional fulfilment. Creating a supporting and open environment for employees to take care of their own wellbeing, feel a sense of purpose and feel fulfilled in their roles. 
• Create programmes and initiatives to safeguard employee wellbeing. Implementing company-wide policies that serve to protect employee wellbeing. 
• Integrating wellbeing and business performance. Employees who are burnt out, sick or dealing with mental health problems are unable to work in a productive or efficient way. 
• Have strong people and leadership skills. Excellent leadership and people skills are foundational to implementing new policies and safeguarding workplace wellbeing. 

Which organisations are leading the way? 

• Bupa
• Deloitte
• Kirkland & Ellis LLP
• Lattice
• Govox 

In their own words…

“That’s one that thing I’ve learned about being very open and authentic. You’re typically never alone in what you’re feeling and experiencing. Other people are, too – they just might be afraid to say it.”

Jen Fisher, CWO at Deloitte US

Chief Accessibility Officer

According to research by Humanity & Inclusion, more than 1 billion people live with disabilities. Accessibility has become an increasingly important topic in the workplace as businesses strive to be more inclusive and have a greater awareness of the benefits of a diverse team.

What do they do?

• Identify problems that might prevent individuals from accessing facilities, resources, opportunities, jobs and products. Being aware of the potential obstacles and barriers that those with disabilities face is crucial. 
• Set accessibility strategy and long term goals. Coming up with solutions to increase accessibility so that people with disabilities can experience the same opportunities as others. 
• Championing internal inclusivity and accessibility policies. Advocating for company-wide changes in order to improve accessibility, and liaising with the C-Suite to ensure that accessibility is a priority 
• Have strong people and leadership skills. Excellent leadership and people skills are foundational to implementing new policies and encouraging others to think long term. 

Which organisations are leading the way? 

• Microsoft  
• IBM
• Government of Canada
• Ruh Global Communications

In their own words…

“There are things we need to do better. [My experience with disability] has been a good reminder of why we need people with disabilities to be in the process of product design.”

Jenny Lay-Flurrie, CAO at Microsoft

Chief Culture Officer

Chief Culture Officer, sometimes called Head of Culture, is responsible for shaping an organisation’s culture and ensuring that all departments and divisions are aligned with the company’s mission, values and purpose. It’s an important role that influences the way that employees think about the company they work for, the impact of the work they do and how they relate to each other. It shapes the company’s identity and is crucial to a purposeful business. 

What do they do?

• Shape company culture. Fostering a company culture that aligns with the long term vision, values and purpose. 
• Inspire and motivate employees. Creating an environment that fosters purpose, passion, fulfilment and meaning is an important aspect of the role. 
• Meet the challenges of a hybrid workplace. The majority of businesses offer hybrid or remote working opportunities, so CCOs need to problem solve, think dynamically and create flexible solutions to integrate remote and in-person workers. 
• Create a sense of unity, connection and identity with policies and initiatives. Excellent leadership and people skills are foundational to creating a unified sense of culture that all employees feel aligned with. 

Which organisations are leading the way? 

• Lego
• Microsoft
• LuluLemon 
• MailChimp
• Google 

In their own words…

“Twenty years ago, no one cared about the culture of your organisation – they cared about your product, your offering. But today, your company’s culture is your brand – you can’t separate it. And your employees are your biggest brand ambassadors.”

Cheria Young, VP of Culture and Experience at New York-based agency Known

Chief Integrity Officer

An increasing number of organisations have dedicated an entire role to actively preventing unethical business practices. Integrity officers help businesses to remain in line with anti-corruption laws and have become increasingly relevant as businesses alter their strategic models to place ethical, honest and accountable practices at the heart of their operations. 

What do they do?

• Safeguards against occurrences of ethical fading, bribery and corruption. The role is responsible for ensuring that a company operates in an ethical and honest way.  
• Mitigates risk against legal action. Ensures that the company and all employees remain in compliance with anti-corruption laws, and mitigates any behaviour that could incur risk or damages to the business. 
• Think strategically. Problem solve and think dynamically to come up with strategic models that have business ethics at their core. 
• Champion a culture of integrity, support and honesty. Creating a culture where employees feel psychologically safe increases levels of trust and integrity in the workplace. 

Which organisations are leading the way? 

• Unilever 
• Volkswagen 
• The World Bank Group
• Snap Inc 

In their own words…

“Having a culture of integrity strengthens Unilever’s sustainable growth and works to raise standards in the communities in which we operate.”

Kim Morgan-Verlaque, Chief Business Integrity Officer at Unilever from the Unilever Human Rights Report 2020