From Boardroom Silence to Everyday Action: Why ESG Titles Are Disappearing

Last Tuesday I was on a video call Last Tuesday I was on a video call with the CHRO of a large industrial group. As we mapped out the leadership agenda for the next 18 months, two senior titles that once sat prominently on the org chart caught my eye–Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of Diversity & Inclusion–and they were nowhere to be found. A brief pause later I asked, “What happened?” Her smile was weary.

“Pierre, it’s not that we stopped caring. It’s that the world got noisier and our board got… pragmatic.”

Yet something subtle is brewing across the continent

Meanwhile, back here in Europe?
In my humble view, something interesting is happening. Quietly. No headlines. No big speeches. But still—real movement.

• Long‑term industrial plans are taking shape, driven by the EU’s 7-year investment programs.
• The Draghi Report? Not gathering dust—it’s getting traction, I’m hearing from inside the EC.
• R&D and innovation? Back on the EU agenda as well.
• Even EU bureaucracy is softening (yes, even in Brussels). Softening or abandoning red tapes.
• Investment frameworks? Getting more predictable, finally.

Why this matters for investors and executives

• Why This Matters for Investors and ExecutivesEurope may not be exciting—often desperately slow. But right now? It’s steady. And that’s becoming… attractive. Even China is adjusting course.
• Tariff pressures in the United States and political uncertainty make Europe a strategically safer haven for manufacturing and supply‑chain diversification.
• Not mentioning Switzerland, which is rediscovering its neighbours. 😉

For those of us in executive search, the implications are clear:

1. Think beyond borders — It’s no longer “Belgium or another European country for the sake of it,” but a global map where Europe now occupies a prominent, strategic slot.
2. Stay close to fast‑pivoting industries — The sectors that are adapting quickly will need leaders who can navigate ambiguity.
3. And always keep the quality high — Especially now.

Bottom line

Whether ESG titles disappear because they’re deprioritized or because they’ve become embedded in every role, the onus remains on leaders to ensure those values stay alive—through measurable goals, transparent reporting, and continuous advocacy.