CECP Announces Nielsen CEO David Kenny, NRG CEO Mauricio Gutierrez, and Siemens USA CEO Barbara Humpton to Join Board of Directors

Mar 27, 2019 1:05 PM ET

NEW YORK, March 27, 2019 /3BL Media/ — As part of its continuing efforts to create a better world through business, Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP) announced that it has added three top CEOs to the organization’s distinguished Board of Directors: Barbara Humpton, CEO, Siemens USA; David Kenny, CEO, Nielsen; and Mauricio Gutierrez, President & CEO, NRG Energy. As a CEO-led coalition of more than 200 of the world’s largest companies, CECP believes a company’s social strategy – how it engages with key stakeholders including employees, communities, investors, and customers – determines a company’s success.

“CECP’s achievements over the last 20 years have been propelled by some of the world’s most successful and innovative business leaders, whom CECP has been honored to have sit on its Board of Directors,” said Doug Conant, Founder and CEO, ConantLeadership; former CEO, Campbell Soup Company; former Chairman, Avon Products; and Chairman, CECP. “With Barbara, David, and Mauricio joining our Board of Directors, CECP’s CEO-led coalition will continue to define the field of corporate purpose – as it has for the past 20 years.”

Founded in 1999 by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman and other business leaders to create a better world through business, CECP has grown to a movement of more than 200 of the world’s largest companies that represent $6.6 trillion in revenues, $21.2 billion in societal investment, 14 million employees, and $15 trillion in assets under management.

“As stewards in CECP’s efforts to advance business as a Force for Good, Barbara, David, and Mauricio exemplify top leadership across industries and join a long list of distinguished CECP Directors,” said Daryl Brewster, CEO, CECP. “We are privileged to work alongside each of them and are eager to take advantage of their talents, insights, and executive expertise.”

Barbara Humpton became CEO of Siemens USA in June 2018, where she guides the company’s strategy and engagement in serving the company’s largest market in the world, with more than 50,000 employees and over $23 billion in revenues and $5 billion in annual exports. Mrs. Humpton levers Siemens’ global leadership in engineering and technology innovation to meet America’s toughest challenges. Prior to serving as CEO, she served as president and CEO of Siemens Government Technologies, Inc. (SGT), a leading integrator of Siemens’ products and services for federal government agencies and departments.

Siemens ranked first on Fortune’s 2019 list of “World’s Most Admired Companies” for the fourth year in a row, reflecting its leading position across categories including innovation, social responsibility, and financial soundness.

“At Siemens, we believe in leading the digital transformation and resulting Fourth Industrial Revolution by allowing purpose and social responsibility to guide us,” said Mrs. Humpton. “I’m thrilled to join CECP and be part of this critically important work to align core business goals and social values.”

David Kenny was appointed CEO at Nielsen in November 2018, bringing his extensive experience in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence to drive the company into a new era of leadership. In February 2019 he assumed the role of Chief Diversity Officer. Kenny has a proven track record of implementing growth strategies, overseeing strategic transactions and creating value for stakeholders. He has served as Senior Vice President of Cognitive Solutions at IBM, Chairman and Chief Executive of The Weather Company, President of Akamai, a cloud platform technology company and Managing Partner of VivaKi, a media company and co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Digitas, Inc.

Nielsen ranked number 19 on the DiversityInc Top 50 2018, a distinguished list that ranks public and private companies on their commitment to workplace diversity. Nielsen was also ranked on Forbes’ 2017 list of “World’s Most Innovative Companies.”

"Being a responsible corporate citizen is woven into Nielsen’s DNA and today we're broadening our efforts to make a real difference in the communities we serve and in our fight for a better world," said Kenny. "As part of the coalition, CECP keeps us moving forward, always daring us to do more."

Mauricio Gutierrez became President and CEO of NRG in December 2015. Prior to becoming President and CEO, Gutierrez held the position of COO, where he held top responsibility for ensuring that NRG’s generating fleets operate at the highest levels of safety, performance and environmental sustainability. During his tenure, Gutierrez has helped build NRG from a regional wholesale generation business to a national, Fortune 500, diversified energy company.  

“NRG is redefining how electricity is being produced, delivered and experienced by individuals and businesses. Sustainability is a critical pillar of our strategy, embedded in our culture and values.” said Gutierrez. “I am honored to take a leadership role in CECP, to help chart new paths in sustainability and corporate social strategy.”

Humpton, Kenny, and Gutierrez join the current Board of Directors, which includes:

  • Douglas R. Conant, Founder and CEO, ConantLeadership; former CEO, Campbell Soup Company; former Chairman, Avon Products; and Chairman, CECP
  • Patrick J. Burke, President & CEO, HSBC USA Group
  • Thomas DeRosa, CEO & Director, Welltower
  • Lynne Doughtie, Chairman & CEO, KPMG LLP
  • Theodore Dysart, Vice Chairman, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
  • Richard Edelman, President & CEO, Edelman
  • Robert H. Forrester, President & CEO, Newman’s Own
  • Alex Gorsky, Chairman & CEO, Johnson & Johnson
  • Alan G. Hassenfeld, Chairman, Executive Committee, Hasbro, Inc.
  • Shelly Lazarus, Chairman Emeritus, Ogilvy & Mather
  • Bill McNabb, Former Chairman, Vanguard
  • Deanna Mulligan, President & CEO, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
  • Stuart Parker, CEO, USAA
  • Michael I. Roth, Chairman & CEO, Interpublic Group

CECP’s Board of Directors also includes the following Director Emeriti:

  • Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Former Chairman and CEO, Carlson Holdings, Inc.
  • Kenneth T. Derr, Former Chairman & CEO, Chevron Corporation
  • Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Peter Malkin, Chairman Emeritus, Empire State Realty Trust
  • Harold McGraw, III, Chairman Emeritus, S&P Global
  • Paul Newman, Actor and Philanthropist, (January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008)
  • David Rockefeller, Former Chairman & CEO, Chase Manhattan Corporation (June 12, 1915 – March 20, 2017)
  • Paul Volcker, Former Chairman, Federal Reserve
  • Sanford Weill, Chairman Emeritus, Citigroup, Inc.
  • John C. Whitehead, Former Co-Chair, Goldman, Sachs, & Co., Former Deputy Secretary of State (April 2, 1922 – February 7, 2017)

CECP also works with a group of CECP Ambassadors, which includes:

  • Mitch Barns, Former CEO, Nielsen
  • Duncan L. Niederauer, Former CEO, NYSE
  • John Veihmeyer, Former Chairman & CEO, KPMG
  • Bill Goodwynn, CEO, Discovery Education
  • Robert Wolf, Former CEO, UBS
  • Tony Earley, Executive Chairman, PG&E

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ABOUT CHIEF EXECUTIVES FOR CORPORATE PURPOSE (CECP)

Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP) is a CEO-led coalition that believes that a company’s social strategy — how it engages with key stakeholders including employees, communities, investors, and customers —determines company success. Founded in 1999 by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman and other business leaders to create a better world through business, CECP has grown to a movement of more than 200 of the world’s largest companies that represent $6.6 trillion in revenues, $21.2 billion in societal investment, 14 million employees, and $15 trillion in assets under management. CECP helps companies transform their social strategy by providing customized connections and networking, counsel and support, benchmarking and trends, and awareness building and recognition