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Marie-Claire Daveu
Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer chez Kering
Professional Background
Marie-Claire Daveu is a trailblazer in the field of sustainability, serving as the Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of International Institutional Affairs at Kering, a globally recognized luxury group. Since September 2012, she has spearheaded Kering's sustainability initiatives, driving transformational change within the company and across its prestigious Maisons in Fashion, Leather Goods, Jewelry, and Watchmaking. With her extensive experience in both the private and public sectors, Marie-Claire is a leading figure advocating for sustainability in luxury and business, shaping how the industry can create a more circular economy while reducing reliance on finite natural resources.
Her role at Kering involves developing and operationalizing the company's sustainability strategy, which aims to set a benchmark for the luxury sector in responsible business practices. Passionate about sustainable stewardship, she utilizes the significant influence of luxury brands to set trends that favor environmentally-friendly practices and social responsibility. Marie-Claire's dedication to empowering women leaders and championing animal welfare reflects her broader commitment to make a positive impact within the industry.
Education and Achievements
Marie-Claire's academic background is rooted in significant institutions that have equipped her with the knowledge and tools to excel in her sustainability endeavors. She pursued studies at Université Paris Dauphine - PSL, an institution renowned for its focus on management and economics. She also studied at AgroParisTech, the prestigious Institut Des Sciences Et Industries Du Vivant Et De L'Environnement, which emphasizes the importance of environmental sciences and sustainability. This strong educational foundation has propelled her career and influenced her approach towards integrating sustainable practices within corporate frameworks.
In her career, Marie-Claire has held multiple high-level positions beyond her role at Kering. Notably, she has been a board member at Groupe Crédit Agricole, contributing her insights on sustainability and corporate governance. Furthermore, she has served as a Supervisory Board Member at Ponant and at Saft, where she continued to advocate for sustainable development and responsible resource management. Her leadership was especially evident as the Chairman of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee at Albioma, where she guided the organization towards aligning business practices with environmental stewardship.
Additionally, Marie-Claire's experience extends to her earlier roles as Chief of Staff at the Ministère de l'Environnement and the Ministry for Digital Economy and Prospective. These positions allowed her to influence policy and drive legislative frameworks promoting sustainability on a national scale. As Senior Director of Sustainable Development at Sanofi, her strategic vision advanced the pharmaceutical sector's understanding of sustainability challenges while demonstrating the business case for integrating these principles.
Key Achievements
Throughout her dynamic career, Marie-Claire has successfully facilitated numerous initiatives and projects focused on sustainability, particularly in aligning the luxurious nature of Kering's brands with environmentally and socially responsible practices. Under her leadership, Kering has made significant strides towards becoming a pioneer within the luxury market, showcasing how luxury and sustainability can coexist. Her work is centered on action and innovation, developing strategies that engage employees and stakeholders alike in creating an eco-conscious corporate culture.
Marie-Claire often reflects on her belief that one individual can make a difference, quoting Edward Everett Hale, “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” This mantra underscores her commitment to taking actionable steps towards a sustainable future, thus inspiring colleagues and fellow professionals to embrace their roles in the larger sustainability narrative. In each role she has undertaken, Marie-Claire has left a distinctive mark that elevates the importance of sustainable practices within both the corporate and public sectors.
Achievements
Marie-Claire Daveu has made impressive contributions within her professional roles, particularly at Kering, where her sustainability efforts are regarded as setting a benchmark for the luxury industry. Her leadership has resulted in measurable impacts on the companies and organizations she has been associated with, fostering a deep commitment to sustainable business practices across various sectors.
