Explore our knowledge

Susanne Borch­er Stormer

Visiting Researcher

Topics
Boards Change management Annual reports Sustainability ESG Global goals

Primary research areas

The Role of the CSO Revisited

Sustainability management as a professional field has matured significantly, and so has the role and functional responsibilities of the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO). In our project, we seek to understand:
What is the role of the CSO in the current business environment?
And are today’s CSOs fit for the future?

I want to define what sustainability leadership looks like.

In the project we seek to articulate what competencies are required to effectively fill the role of a CSO and provide a unique and timely insight into the profession of sustainability leadership as it is currently being practiced and the direction of travel. 
The ambition is to inform the academic offerings by educational institutions for experienced practitioners.  

Our assumption is that there is a need to more clearly define sustainability leadership today and in the medium-term future, and articulate what competencies are required to effectively fill the role of a CSO.  

We explore the current work situation for CSOs in companies included in the Danish OMX index and via interviews and desk research collect information about:

  • What do CSOs actually do in 2026?
  • What do CSOs believe they should be doing? 
  • And what do CSOs’ managers believe they are doing, and should be doing?