Few of today’s CEOs earned their jobs because they were socially responsible and spoke out on hot topics. Yet now more than ever, key stakeholders want to know where companies and CEOs stand on critical social issues. Speaking out is a 21st-century requirement for the leaders of major companies. Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP) […]

Anyone with the idea that CEOs and companies can now stand down with a new Administration has sorely underestimated corporations. They will still fill the role of CEO statespeople Yet, the role of a company will change when a little less rests on their shoulders alone. There is still plenty to do to meet the […]

As we all struggle through these unprecedented times, the need for strong purpose-focused leadership, and the world’s leading businesses’ critical role, has become increasingly clear. According to the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer, “78% of respondents expect business to act to protect employees and the local community”, and that’s never been more true than now. And […]

During a recent CECP CEO Roundtable, current and former CEOs gathered virtually and shared insights from their perspectives on the business landscape. In these informative discussions, one executive noted that leadership, more so than having the right systems in place, is and will be integral as we navigate uncharted territory. Another executive shared an interview […]

Take a break from your day to scan how chief executives of the world’s largest companies are experiencing the pandemic. The wordsmiths below made us at times laugh, dread, empathize, cry, respect, applaud, and hope. Liverpool Football Club Manager Jürgen Klopp: “It’s not important what famous people say. I wear a baseball cap and have […]

We’re going to want to reach for the pitchforks as we watch baggage-charging, space-squeezing airlines get a chunk of taxpayers’ money as part of the Covid-19 stimulus package, with very few strings attached. Particularly so after a decade of airlines shipping cash out the door in share buy-backs at an extraordinary scale. As a result, […]

On November 7, 2019, Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP) and Edelman hosted a webinar titled Communicating Long-Term Plans: Best Practices and Examples from the Industry, which can be accessed here. The combined Strategic Investor Initiative and Edelman Long-Term Plan presentation is here and the underlying research on which the content guidance we provide to companies is found here. There […]

The text below are the remarks given by Xavier de Souza Briggs, Vice President, U.S. Programs, Ford Foundation at CECP’s Chairman’s Reception the night before the 14th Annual Board of Boards.    I want to begin by congratulating the members and leadership of CECP for 20 years of terrific accomplishment and growth. I’d also like […]

This article appeared first in the National Association of Corporate Directors’ blog, BoardTalk. Board members don’t need another tome outlining the uncertain times in which their companies find themselves. What they need is a road map to guide their companies in sustainable value creation, which, in a sense, future proofs their business strategies. Uneasy markets? […]

CEOs from institutional investor firms BlackRock and State Street released their annual guidance to companies on practices they “believe will drive sustainable, long-term growth, and profitability.” These letters were issued amidst widespread cynicism, both socially and economically, while anxious chatter continues about the role of business, capitalism, and strategic time horizons. The 2019 Edelman Trust […]