Group CEO statement
Mark Pesco
Group Chief Executive Officer
Welcome to our second sustainability report – an authentic account of the actions we’ve taken to grow our business in a sustainable way over the last twelve months. In this report we share the progress we’ve made and chart the actions we’ve taken to reduce our environmental footprint, enhance our social impact and strengthen our corporate governance on a global scale.
As the Group CEO of IQ-EQ, I’m proud to lead a global team of talented and diverse people who power our business and our clients with their technical skills, expertise and passion. They’re our greatest asset and the key to our sustainable success. They’re the ones who drive innovation, deliver excellence and help to create positive change in the world.
That’s why our purpose, which we launched in 2023, is to power people and possibilities. We believe that by empowering our people to achieve their full potential, we can unlock new opportunities for growth, value and impact for ourselves, our clients and our communities. We’re committed to fostering a culture of inclusion, collaboration and learning where everyone can thrive and contribute to our shared vision.
Sustainability is not only a guiding principle for us, but also a key driver for our clients and business partners. That’s why we provide ESG solutions and services that help them navigate the complex and evolving ESG landscape, align their activities with global standards and frameworks, and report on their performance and impact.
One of the highlights of our 2023 sustainability journey was achieving the prestigious EcoVadis gold medal, which places us in the top 5% of companies globally for our corporate sustainability-related practices practices. This is a remarkable achievement, up from bronze in 2022, and reflects the positive impact we’re making to the world around us. We’re proud to share this recognition with our clients, partners and stakeholders who’ve supported us along the way.
2023 was also a year of growth and innovation for our business. We’ve expanded our operations and strengthened our capabilities in key markets and regions, while maintaining our commercial excellence, compliance, and quality standards. We grew globally, with over 1,900 people joining us, including welcoming 230+ new hires to our new operation in Hyderabad, India designed to help us meet the growing demand for our services and solutions in other markets. We’ve also invested directly in India through our carbon offsetting programme with Gold Standard, helping to fund nine carbon offset projects, including wind farms, solar farms, and biogas projects.
I’d encourage you to read this report to learn about some of the inspiring stories and achievements of our people as well as the progress we’ve made as a responsible and sustainable business. We’ve a lot to be proud of but acknowledge that we’ve a lot more to do if we’re to create a better future for ourselves and the generations to come.
Together, we’re striving to build a better future for all. And together we know we can make a difference.