Kearney has appointed Angela Hultberg as its first Global Head of Sustainability, formalising sustainability as a dedicated global leadership function within the firm. The newly created role positions Hultberg at the centre of Kearney’s efforts to support clients as they transition toward more sustainable and resilient business models.

The appointment reflects growing demand from corporate clients for integrated sustainability strategies that link operational performance, value creation, and long-term risk management.

Mandate Focused on Client Transformation

In her new role, Hultberg will be responsible for shaping Kearney’s global sustainability agenda and helping clients embed sustainability into core business decision-making. The remit spans strategy, operations, supply chains, and transformation programs, with a focus on translating sustainability ambition into practical execution.

Kearney indicated that the role is designed to support organisations navigating regulatory pressure, stakeholder expectations, and shifting market dynamics, particularly as sustainability becomes more closely tied to competitiveness and capital allocation.

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Track Record Within Kearney

Hultberg has spent the past four years at Kearney, having joined the firm in 2022. Most recently, she served as Global Sustainability Director, where she advised clients across sectors including automotive, consumer and retail, and transportation.

During this period, she worked closely with leadership teams to design sustainability roadmaps, operational decarbonisation strategies, and value chain interventions. Her internal promotion signals continuity in Kearney’s sustainability approach while elevating its importance within the firm’s global structure.

Thought Leadership and Strategic Frameworks

In addition to her advisory work, Hultberg co-authored Kearney’s book The Sustainability Chessboard, which outlines structured, step-by-step approaches for organisations to assess sustainability maturity and develop actionable strategies. The publication has been positioned by the firm as a practical guide for executives seeking to move beyond high-level commitments toward measurable outcomes.

This emphasis on structured execution aligns with Kearney’s broader positioning of sustainability as a transformation challenge rather than a standalone reporting exercise.

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Experience Shaped by Industry Leadership at IKEA

Before joining Kearney, Hultberg spent more than eight years at IKEA, where she held a series of senior sustainability-focused roles. Among them was Head of Sustainable Mobility, where she led initiatives supporting IKEA’s ambition to achieve zero-emission home deliveries.

Her experience at IKEA exposed her to large-scale operational sustainability challenges, particularly in logistics, mobility, and customer-facing transformation, providing practical insight into how sustainability strategies are implemented within complex global organisations.

Significance of the Appointment

The creation of a Global Head of Sustainability role signals Kearney’s intent to elevate sustainability as a core advisory capability rather than a supporting function. As clients increasingly seek guidance on integrating sustainability into strategy, operations, and investment decisions, the firm is positioning itself to compete more directly with peers that have already formalised global sustainability leadership.

For Kearney’s clients, the appointment underscores a shift toward more integrated, execution-focused sustainability support at a time when regulatory scrutiny and transition pressures continue to intensify.

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