Sustainability as Strategy: What Great Leaders Do Differently

In recent years, we’ve seen sustainability move from a peripheral concern to a central driver of business success. Public scrutiny and stakeholder expectations are intensifying, and organisations are under pressure to respond with more than words. Yet while many companies talk about sustainability, few embed it deeply enough to create lasting impact. 

At Page Executive, we work closely with senior leaders and boards to identify the talent capable of translating ambition into action. Through this work, we’ve seen first-hand what drives real transformation, and what holds it back...

By Nina Buttle, Partner, Page Executive

The Leadership Imperative

A key to success is recognising that sustainable goals are commercial goals. When sustainability is treated as a strategic priority rather than a side initiative, it becomes a source of resilience, innovation, and long-term value.

Our Global Executive Compensation Insights 2025 revealed that, on average, just 10% of executives worldwide say their variable compensation is influenced by sustainability or CSR metrics. This gap highlights a critical leadership challenge: sustainability is still not embedded as a performance driver.

True progress demands a mindset shift at the top, where leaders integrate sustainability into strategy, governance, and culture, not as a reporting exercise, but as a lens for value creation. Encouragingly, the EY CEO Outlook 2025 found that while 75% of global CEOs now list sustainability as a top-three business priority, less than 40% believe they have the right leadership in place to deliver on it. The talent gap here is clear… and growing.

Leadership That Turns Strategy Into Action

Companies like LEGO Group, which now links CO₂ reduction targets to employee bonuses, demonstrate how leadership alignment can transform sustainability from policy to practice. When senior executives model accountability and embed ESG objectives into the organisation’s DNA, they not only strengthen resilience but also enhance their employer brand, a growing advantage in attracting purpose-driven talent.

WATCH FULL INTERVIEW WITH LEGO'S VP OF REWARDS HERE

Recent data supports this connection. A 2024 PwC survey revealed that 79% of global investors consider ESG risks material to business performance, while over 60% of employees say they are more likely to join or stay with an organisation that demonstrates genuine environmental and social responsibility. Leadership credibility on sustainability is now a decisive factor in both market reputation and talent attraction.

The Demand for ESG-Capable Leaders

As sustainability regulations evolve and expectations rise, boards are increasingly seeking leaders who combine commercial acumen with ESG fluency. I recently read that the number of Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) appointments has tripled globally since 2020. Yet the most forward-thinking organisations are embedding sustainability thinking across their entire C-suite, ensuring that finance, operations and HR leaders all understand and champion sustainability outcomes.

This shift in leadership requirements is clearly visible in hiring trends. Sustainability-related roles are among the fastest-growing executive search mandates across Europe and Asia-Pacific, and PageGroup alone has placed over 500 sustainability-focused roles in the past two years, including 30 at the executive level. This growth reflects not only rising demand but also the increasing sophistication of what clients expect from senior ESG talent.

Building the Right Leadership Bench

Once sustainability ambitions are defined, the next step is bringing in the right talent to deliver them. These professionals must go beyond technical expertise, they need the gravitas and influence to drive cross-functional change, the data literacy to navigate evolving reporting frameworks, and the strategic mindset to link sustainability directly to business value.

At Page Executive, we specialise in identifying and validating these leaders. Many of the most effective sustainability executives are not visible on the open market, they are already driving transformation within leading organisations. Our role as a trusted intermediary gives clients access to this hidden talent pool, ensuring the right leadership is in place to make sustainability more than a statement.

Sustainability as a Leadership Differentiator

Sustainability is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s a strategic lever for growth, brand reputation, and talent attraction. Leaders who prioritise it are better positioned to succeed, not despite their sustainability efforts, but because of them.

Younger generations expect employers to demonstrate real impact. Investors and customers are asking tougher questions. And in this new landscape, the companies that will thrive are those that build leadership teams with sustainability at their core, from boardroom decisions and compensation structures to strategic planning and performance tracking.

If you’re looking to strengthen your leadership team’s sustainability capability, or to embed ESG expertise into your executive hiring strategy, we’d welcome a conversation. Connect with me or one of your local Page Executive Principals or Partners to discuss how we can help you identify the leaders who will turn sustainability into a strategic advantage.