Constitution of Guidance Committee for the Danone Ecosystem Fund
During Danone’s Annual General Meeting on April 23rd, 2009, shareholders approved the creation of a Fund dedicated to the development of Danone’s “Ecosystem”.
The Guidance Committee of the Danone Ecosystem Fund held its first meeting today in Paris. The fund is chaired by Franck Riboud and consists of members of Danone’s Executive Committee as well as external members that are related to politics, research, NGOs or Trade unions.
At this occasion, Franck Riboud commented: "The founding principle of the Danone Ecosystem is our notion of corporate responsibility: to ensure sustainable development, we need to take care of the solidity of our local stakeholders. It has therefore been logical for us to invite renowned personalities to this Committee who agreed to join us in this innovative initiative. I am very proud of it and I really would like to thank them for their support. This is an important initial step, which allows us to start the project selection phase and fund the first initiatives before the end of the year".
Pascal Lamy stated: “As the DG of the WTO, I am convinced that the emergence of socially sustainable economic models is not only the responsibility of governmental institutions, national or international. For me the involvement of the stakeholders is paramount. From this point of view, Danone’s initiative is unique as it places the business at the heart of the ecosystem.”
Martin Hirsch said: “In my previous charitable responsibilities and in my current position, I have always encouraged companies to embrace their social and environmental responsibilities. New initiatives must make a real, measurable and long-lasting impact. The creation of the Danone Fund, made possible by the law brought into action on the 4thof August 2008, permits the development of innovative social programs, which brings together private and public sectors. This is the reason why I have decided to sit on the board of directors. Above all, I wish this initiative every success.”
Membership of the Guidance Committee:
- Franck Riboud, CEO of Danone - Chairman
- Pascal Lamy, Director General of the WTO (World Trade Organisation) – Vice-Chairman
- Martin Hirsch, High Commissioner responsible for active solidarities against poverty, High Commissioner for Youth - Vice-Chairman
- Lourdes Arizpe, Doctor in Anthropology, University of Mexico, member of the UN Economic and Social Committee
- Gaby Bonnand, National Secretary – C.F.D.T (Conférence Française Démocratique du Travail)
- Bill Drayton, CEO and Founder of Ashoka
- Esther Duflo, Doctor of Economics, Professor at MIT and at the Collège de France
- Emmanuel Faber, co-Chief Operating Officer - Danone
- Bernard Hours, co-Chief Operating Officer - Danone
- Ron Oswald, General Secretary – U.I.T.A (International Union of Food workers)
- Muriel Pénicaud, Executive Vice President, Human Resources - Danone
About Danone Ecosystem Fund:
The Danone Ecosystem Fund is designed to support, strengthen and develop the activity of its “Ecosystem”, meaning all stakeholders whose activities are impacted by Danone and who act closely with its local subsidiaries on economic, social and territorial matters. The Fund shall be financed by an initial donation of € 100 mln in 2009, and, from 2010 onwards, up to 1% of the annual net profit of Danone for a period of 5 years.
The Fund will carry out actions in the following areas:
- Support the creation and strengthening of economic activities and entrepreneurial projects, to create jobs and support the development of small and medium-sized companies;
- Support the development of competencies and re-employment initiatives, in particular through training programs.
The Fund intervenes exclusively through actions proposed by Danone’s subsidiaries and in partnership with local associations. The first investment decisions will be taken in the fourth quarter of 2009.
About Members of the Guidance Committee:
Pascal LAMY
French-born Pascal Lamy has been Director General of the WTO since September 2005. He began his career in France, first in the civil service, then as the CEO of Credit Lyonnais at the end of the nineties. Previously he spent about 10 years in Brussels working beside Jacques Delors, President of the European Commission, where he came back from 1999 till 2004 as Commissioner for Trade.
Martin HIRSCH
French-born Martin Hirsch joined François Fillon’s Government in May, 2007 as High Commissioner for Active Solidarity against poverty. His career in the civil service allowed him to exert responsibility in the fields of health and the social actions. He was CEO of the French Agency of Sanitary Safety (AFSSA) from 1999 to 2005. Simultaneously, Martin Hirsch he was very involved in community life, as President of the central Union of Emmaüs Communities from 1995 till 2002 and continued this position at Emmaüs France as of May 2002.
Pr. Lourdes ARIZPE
Mexican-born Lourdes Arizpe is a Doctor in Social Anthropology and a Professor at the National University of Mexico City. After a doctorate of the London School of Economics, she was general vice-director for culture at UNESCO from 1994 until 1998. At present, she works as president of the board of directors of the United Nations responsible for research and social development, and as committee member for the development policies of the United Nations.
Gaby BONNAND
French-born Gaby Bonnand has been National Secretary of the French Trade Union CFDT since 2002, in charge of health, social welfare and economic issues. He became a member of this union in 1971, when he was employed by a metal company. Over time, he gradually increased his responsibilities within the Confederacy initially at the departmental level, followed by the regional level. In 1997, he became General Secretary of the Regional Union of Brittany and was elected to the National Confederate Office.
William DRAYTON
American-born "Bill” Drayton is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ashoka, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding and fostering social entrepreneurs worldwide. He spent a part of his career as a McKinsey consultant in New York and he served as an Assistant Administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for four years. He has received numerous awards for his achievements as a social entrepreneur.
Esther DUFLO
French-born Esther Duflo is a Doctor in Economics, a Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and at the College de France. She studied History and Economics in France. She moved to the United States 10 years ago to teach at MIT and Princeton. She is currently the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of “Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics in the Department of Economics”. Her research focuses on health, education, microeconomic issues and policy evaluation in developing countries.
Ron OSWALD
British-born Ron Oswald has been General Secretary of the IUF since 1997. He has been a union member since 1969 when he first worked as a baggage handler at London's Heathrow Airport. He spent his whole career within the IUF before succeeding Dan Gallin, and leading the IUF to significant success in its struggle for international union recognition from major transnational companies in the food, agricultural and hotel sectors. He signed several international agreements with Danone, particularly on workers' rights in 1997, on the Fundamental Social Principles in 2005, then on Diversity in 2007.
About Danone
Danone is a Fortune 500 company and one of the most successful healthy food companies in the world. Its mission is to bring health through tasty, nutritious and affordable food and beverage products to as many people as possible. Fulfilling this mission is a major contributor to Danone’s continuous fast growth. Danone with 160 plants and around 80,000 employees has a presence in all five continents and over 120 countries. In 2008, Danone recorded € 15.2 billion sales. Danone enjoys leading positions on healthy food in four businesses: fresh dairy products (n°1 worldwid e), waters (n° 2 on the packaged water market), bab y nutrition (n°2 worldwide) and medical nutrition. Listed on Euronext Paris, Danone is also ranked among the main index of social responsibility: Dow Jones Sustainability Index Stoxx and World, ASPI Eurozone and Ethibel Sustainability index.
