The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has announced the permanent appointment of McKenna Smith as Managing Director of SBTi Services. Smith, who has been with the organisation since 2021, previously held the position of Interim Managing Director.
The appointment comes at a critical juncture for the SBTi as it continues to scale its operations globally to meet the rising demand for corporate climate target validation.
Since joining the SBTi during its early developmental stages, Smith has been a central figure in the evolution of the Services division. Her background combines technical carbon expertise with a focus on strategic leadership and operational delivery—a skill set the organisation credits with the recent transformation of its service functions.
During her tenure, Smith has overseen initiatives aimed at strengthening the growth of the Services arm and improving the interface between the organisation and the thousands of companies and stakeholders engaging with the SBTi framework.
In her new role, Smith will lead the next chapter of SBTi Services, focusing on the continued evolution of the department to support the global expansion of science-based climate targets. Her leadership is expected to be instrumental in ensuring the organisation can handle increasing volumes of validation requests while maintaining technical rigour.
“McKenna’s leadership will be instrumental in strengthening and evolving Services for the future,” the organisation stated, highlighting her commitment to enhancing the experience for businesses navigating the path to net-zero.
As the corporate sector faces heightened pressure to set credible, verified climate goals, the stabilisation of leadership within the SBTi’s service delivery function is seen as a key step in providing the consistency and expertise required by global industry.
