The World Environment Center (WEC), a global non-profit, non-advocacy organization dedicated to advancing environmentally sustainable business strategies and solutions, announced today the election of new officers and a new member to its Board of Directors, as well as the approval of an updated strategic plan that leverages global partnerships to drive thought leadership for practical business solutions.

Mr. Jeff Seabright, Vice President for Environment and Water Resources at The Coca-Cola Company, was elected WEC's new Chairman of the Board, succeeding Wayne S. Balta, Vice President of Corporate Environmental Affairs and Product Safety at IBM Corporation. Mr. Seabright has served as a Foreign Service Officer in the U.S. State Department and as Executive Director of the Climate Change Task Force in the White House during the Clinton administration. At The Coca-Cola Company, Mr. Seabright is responsible for environmental governance and leadership across the company's operations worldwide. He leads a team of experts working to integrate water stewardship, sustainable packaging, energy efficiency and climate protection practices into Coca-Cola's business decisions and practices.

"The World Environment Center is making a measurable difference in its work to build the capacity of global business to accelerate sustainable development," said Mr. Seabright. "It is exciting to be part of a diverse and talented team working together to help advance a sustainable future."

Other Officer appointments included Peter Schnurrenberger, Head of Group Safety, Health and Environmental Protection at F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. as Vice Chair; Mary K. Armstrong, Corporate Vice President of Environment, Health & Safety at The Boeing Company as Vice Chair; and Paul Hagen, Principal, Beveridge & Diamond as Secretary-Treasurer of the Board. All Officer appointments are one-year terms.

In addition, the following individuals were re-elected to new three-year terms as Board members: F. Henry "Hank" Habicht II, Managing Partner, SAIL Venture Partners; Martin Hostalek, Senior Vice President, Environment, Health, Safety, Security and Quality, Merck, KGaA; Ienobu Kakegawa, Vice President, Environmental Sustainability, Ricoh Americas Corporation; and Jane Nelson, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. In addition, the Board of Directors elected Ulrich Steger, Professor of Environment Management at IMD International as its newest member. These appointments are effective January 1, 2011. A list of current Board members can be accessed at www.wec.org/AboutWEC/BoardofDirectors.

The Board of Directors also approved an updated strategic plan that will expand the organization's core focus areas to include business solutions to climate adaptation; the integration of biodiversity protection into business strategy and operations; water conservation and efficiency and how business initiatives can be leveraged to assist communities in obtaining potable water supplies; and enhancing the importance of social responsibility issues in business value creation. These focus areas will complement WEC's active programs in green supply chain management, learning and competency development and the promotion of business excellence.

"The appointment of new Board leadership and the expansion of core programs represents a statement of confidence about WEC's ability to make a positive difference in a growing number of regions," stated President and CEO Terry F. Yosie. "WEC's 'business solutions' approach to sustainable development and its non-advocacy character continue to expand membership development and value creation opportunities with a growing number of companies and their stakeholders."

About the World Environment Center
The World Environment Center, headquartered in Washington, D.C. with offices and operations in emerging and developed markets, is unique in its direct application of sustainable development strategies and practices to the business operations of its member companies. WEC creates sustainable business solutions through individual projects in emerging markets; convenes leadership roundtables to shape strategic thinking across a range of sustainability topics; and honors industry excellence through the annual awarding of its Gold Medal Award. An independent non-profit organization, WEC conducts no advocacy activities. For more information, please visit www.wec.org.

World Environment Center

World Environment Center

The World Environment Center advances sustainable development through corporate business practices. Headquartered in Washington, D.C. with offices in Europe and Latin America, WEC creates business solutions through Executive Roundtables on key sustainability challenges, builds capacity of small enterprises in emerging markets, and honors industry excellence through its annual Gold Medal Award. WEC is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization. For more information, please visit www.wec.org.

More from World Environment Center