Posted in: news
4th November 2020
As global leaders across business and civil society, we know that democracy, human rights, the rule of law and institutional integrity are essential to our collective ability to tackle the mounting challenges we face globally.
COVID-19, climate change and inequality are just a few of the existential threats we must confront head-on and together—doing so effectively is critical to creating healthy jobs and a thriving economy. This will require a new kind of leadership: one that recognizes the interdependence of healthy people, planet, and economies; reimagines the relationships between the private sector, government, and civil society; and ensures that everyone has access to free and fair markets as well as free and fair elections.
We believe business now has an opportunity and a responsibility to play a bridging role in an increasingly divided world. Exercising principled leadership, business must put the well-being of all people above special interests and work together so every vote and every voice counts. It is in our collective interest to protect our democracies and societies against misinformation, disinformation, hatred and violence.
We are committed to doing our part in bringing people together to listen, learn and heal the divide, so we may secure an inclusive future where no one is left behind. We ask leaders everywhere to join us and work together with their employees, customers and communities to:
1. Strengthen democratic institutions and support the integrity and outcomes of elections.
2. Support multilateral institutions that promote global cooperation and inclusive representation.
3. Listen to the voices of diverse stakeholders to help bridge divides and lead a reset based upon shared well-being on a healthy planet.
Paul Polman, Chair, The B Team, Co-Founder & Chair, IMAGINE and CEO (2009-2018), Unilever
Sharan Burrow, Vice-Chair, The B Team and General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation
Sir Richard Branson, Co-Founder, The B Team and Founder, Virgin Group
Jochen Zeitz, Co-Founder, The B Team and President and CEO, Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Ajay Banga, CEO, Mastercard
Oliver Bäte, CEO, Allianz Group
Marc Benioff, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Salesforce
Jesper Brodin, CEO, Ingka Group (IKEA)
Alessandro Bogliolo, CEO, Tiffany & Co.
Kathy Calvin, Former President and CEO, UN Foundation
David Crane, Former CEO, NRG Energy
Emmanuel Faber, CEO and Chairman, Danone
Christiana Figueres, Former Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Founder, Global Optimism
Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA
André Hoffmann, Vice Chairman, Board of Roche Holding Ltd
Arianna Huffington, Founder and CEO, Thrive Global
Dr. Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
Yolanda Kakabadse, Former President, World Wildlife Fund International
Guilherme Leal, Co-Founder and Co-Chair, Natura &Co
Andrew Liveris, Chairman Emeritus and Former CEO, Dow Chemical
Hiro Mizuno, Former Executive Management Director and CIO, Government Pension Investment Fund and Board Member, Tesla
Jean Oelwang, Founding CEO and President, Virgin Unite
Torben Möger Pedersen, CEO, PensionDanmark
François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO, Kering
Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland and Chair, The Elders
Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Chobani
Zhang Yue, Chairman and Founder, Broad Group China
Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chairman, Yunus Centre