The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has confirmed renewed leadership for its multistakeholder advisory body, underscoring its commitment to global, cross-sector representation during a period of rapid evolution for sustainability reporting.
Louis Coppola, Co-Founder of the Governance & Accountability Institute, has been appointed as the new Chair of the GRI Stakeholder Council. He will be supported by Adekemi Adisa, General Manager of Sustainability & Shared Value at MTN Nigeria Communications PLC, who steps into the role of Vice Chair. The appointments arrive with one month remaining in the organisation’s global recruitment call for new members across four of its primary governance frameworks.
Comprising at least 15 members drawn from various global regions, the Stakeholder Council advises the GRI Supervisory Board, Management Board, and the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB). The panel brings together diverse perspectives across business enterprise, investment, civil society, academia, service providers, labour, and the public sector, serving to maintain GRI’s focus on the public interest.
Coppola, who represents the service providers constituency from the United States, remarked that it was an honour to assume the role of Chair at such a consequential moment for global sustainability disclosure. He noted that as reporting frameworks become increasingly interconnected, the Council will play a vital role in ensuring diverse perspectives shape the future of GRI, helping organisations meet multiple requirements through streamlined reporting.
Adisa, representing the business enterprises constituency from Nigeria, emphasised that robust sustainability reporting relies entirely on standards that earn trust and support better decision-making. She expressed that the Council’s multistakeholder structure ensures reporting practices reflect the genuine needs of organisations, communities, workers, investors, and civil society groups.
Jane Diplock, Chair of the GRI Supervisory Board, extended gratitude to departing Chair Erdem Kolcuoglu and Vice Chair Constance Kane for their outstanding leadership. Diplock welcomed the incoming leaders, stating the organisation looks forward to their guidance during the Council’s next chapter.
Applications for new members wishing to join the Stakeholder Council, the Supervisory Board, the GSSB, and the Due Process Oversight Committee remain open until 2 August. GRI continues to encourage experienced professionals worldwide to apply to help shape the future of corporate transparency.
