General Motors has created the new position of Chief Sustainability Officer, appointing its existing vice president of sustainable workplaces, Dane Parker, to fill the role.
GM says Parker will lead a “company-wide sustainability strategy, including integration of the company’s goal to reach a zero emissions future.” He and his team will help ensure “the responsible consumption and production of materials, lead GM’s efforts as a global advocate for climate-sensitive manufacturing and mobility operations, and lead the strategic design and implementation infrastructure for electric vehicles at GM facilities,” the automaker also said.
Dane Parker, GM Chief Sustainability Officer
Additionally, Parker will be involved with discussions related to global GM strategy, including facility design, engineering, construction and operations, energy procurement and efficiency and real estate, tackling such projects from an environmental perspective.
“Climate change is real. That is indisputable, and we take the challenges it presents seriously,” GM CEO Mary Barra said in a statement announcing the new role. “The transportation sector must be part of any credible climate change solution and Dane’s leadership, experience and passion will help us meet these challenges head-on. Our vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion is ambitious and this appointment aligns our organization to accelerate achieving that vision.”
Parker first joined GM in July of 2015, serving as the company’s executive director of global facilities. He came to the company from Dell Inc., where he served as the computer company’s vice president of global real estate, facilities and environment, health and safety. He also worked for Intel Corporation in a variety of operational roles during a 13 year stint at the company.
Parker’s appointment comes amid GM’s push to bring 20 new electric vehicles to market by 2023, including a new electric pickup truck, which will debut in the fall of 2021 before going on sale in early 2022. The automaker also recently announced plans to build a large new battery plant near Lordstown, Ohio, which will be built and operated in cooperation with LG Chem and will supply the lithium ion battery cells for many of these future electric products.
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Another great idea by Mary Barry.
Less workers and more managers.