BSR CSO Dinner at Climate Week NYC

Aron served as BSR's President and CEO from 2004–2026 and is recognized globally as a preeminent authority on just and sustainable business. In addition to leading BSR for 22 years, which has grown substantially throughout his tenure, Aron advised senior executives at BSR’s 200+ member companies and other global businesses and partners on the full spectrum of environmental, social, and governance issues.

Aron joined BSR in 1995 as the founding director of its Business and Human Rights program. He later opened BSR's Paris office in 2002, where he worked until becoming President and CEO in 2004. Aron has served on advisory boards to CEOs at AXA, Barrick Gold, Marks & Spencer, Nike, Recruit Holdings, SAP, Shell, and he serves as a director of the We Mean Business Coalition and RISE.

Aron speaks frequently at leading business and public fora and is widely quoted in top-tier media, such as the Financial Times, Le Figaro (France), The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Axios, and Politico. He is co-author of the book Sustainable Excellence: The Future of Business in a Fast-Changing World, which spotlights innovative sustainability strategies that enable business success.

Prior to joining BSR, Aron practiced law in San Francisco and worked as a journalist at ABC News in New York. He holds a BA from Tufts University and a JD from the University of California, Berkeley.

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Recent Insights From Aron Cramer

• Volatility Changes the Playbook, Not the Goal / June 30, 2026 / Insights+
• What It Takes for Companies to Stay Stable in an Era of Constant Disruption / May 19, 2026 / News
• Doing Business in an Era of Geopolitical Conflict / April 7, 2026 / Audio
• The Business Case for Sustainability Holds—But It Needs a New Playbook / March 4, 2026 / Insights+
• Business Value of Sustainability: Trajectory and Strategies / February 12, 2026 / Reports

Full Bio

Laura is a global expert on corporate sustainability, with two decades of experience in strategy consulting and has advised senior executives at global companies across a range of industry sectors and sustainability issues.

As Chief Impact Officer (CIO), the first in the organization’s 30-year history, Laura focuses on maximizing the impact of BSR’s work with its network of over 300 members, both through direct engagement on project work and as a mentor for teams throughout the organization. She also oversees BSR’s Collaborative Initiatives and Membership, and is a recognized thought leader and innovator in strategic business.

She has been an instrumental leader in BSR’s organizational growth and impact. She launched BSR’s financial services practice and New York office, and she served as Chief Operating Officer for five years, leveraging her strengths in strategy, organizational change, and people management. Laura works with leading global companies to develop and enhance their sustainability strategies to maximize value for business and society, and she is sought after to facilitate senior-level strategy workshops and multi-stakeholder collaborations.

She previously worked for Deloitte Consulting, where she acquired extensive strategy experience advising multinational financial services companies. She also worked on several community and economic development projects in Latin America.

Laura holds a MBA from Stanford University and a BS in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. She is an adjunct professor in the Bard MBA in Sustainability program, a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, and a member of the UN Global Compact Expert Network.

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Recent Insights From Laura Gitman

• The Next Gen CSO: Driving Business Integration and Planning for Uncertainty / October 6, 2026 / Reports
• A More Pragmatic Era for Sustainability: Time to Act / June 25, 2026 / Reports
• Responsible AI: A Conversation with Elisa Moscolin, EVP of Sustainability, Sage / May 29, 2026 / Audio
• Harnessing AI in Sustainability: Emerging Use Cases / September 17, 2025 / Reports
• Beyond the Business Case Debate: Reasserting the Strategic Value of Sustainability / July 30, 2025 / Insights+

Full Bio

Diederik has been a recognized leader in sustainable business for more than 20 years. He joined BSR following a distinguished career, including several leadership roles as President, Europe at Glass Lewis & Co; EVP at Morningstar Sustainalytics; and Chair of US Social Investment Forum (US SIF). He currently serves as Chair of the Board at Knology, a nonprofit focused on knowledge and learning.

Throughout his career, Diederik has innovated and scaled organizations, serving in both client and member-centric roles, building the tools and capabilities that help investors and companies align their decisions with governance and sustainability priorities.

Prior to joining BSR, as President, Europe at Glass Lewis, Diederik oversaw the firm’s climate buildout and European business. In this role, he set up and launched Climate Intelligence, which uses human-centric AI to support analyst evaluations of corporate transition strategies and their execution.

Before joining Glass Lewis, as Founder and Principal at &values, Diederik partnered with leadership teams to navigate the complexities of sustainability and climate, regulatory shifts, and the use of AI. He also served as Managing Director of Corporate and Climate Solutions at Morningstar Sustainalytics, where he oversaw rapid growth and geographic expansion, and built out Sustainalytics' corporate solutions and climate offerings business. 

Diederik has been a frequent speaker and lecturer at institutions including Yale University, Columbia University, and Bard College. His work has appeared in publications such as the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and the Journal of Business Ethics.