Inaugural course of study brings together executives from across the CD&R ecosystem to explore value creation strategies

CD&R (or the “Firm”) announced today that it has launched its inaugural Climate Leadership Program in partnership with the Columbia Climate School at Columbia University in the City of New York. The program will help senior executives at CD&R’s portfolio companies and within the Firm’s broader ecosystem build their skills, networks, and understanding of risk mitigation and value creation strategies that address climate-related risks and opportunities.

The program, which will take place across March and April, will welcome a dynamic cohort of executives from each of CD&R’s industry verticals and a broad range of functional backgrounds, including finance, human capital, legal, operations, supply chain, and technology. Over the course of the program, these executives will participate in a combination of virtual and in-person sessions designed to foster learning and real-time workshopping of existing challenges and opportunities. Sessions will provide foundational instruction on scientific, technology, and policy concepts that the Firm believes will position participants to lead organizational climate initiatives that drive improved business performance. The program will also facilitate the development of independent projects, tailored to address specific challenges and opportunities, and offers one-on-one coaching from industry experts to refine those initiatives.

“We believe the launch of our Climate Leadership Program exemplifies CD&R’s ongoing commitment to working with management teams to build healthy, efficient companies and grow enterprise value,” said Nate Sleeper, Chief Executive Officer of CD&R. “We are excited about the innovation, opportunities, and progress we believe this program will promote, for both our companies and the individual leaders who were offered the opportunity and selected to participate to grow their leadership skills and knowledge.”

“This partnership with CD&R represents an exciting model for promoting climate solutions that brings together practitioners from a cross section of private industries with deep domain expertise from our cutting-edge science, technology, and policy research,” said Bruce Usher, Professor of Professional Practice and the Elizabeth B. Strickler '86 and Mark T. Gallogly '86 Faculty Director of the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change at Columbia Business School as well as Professor of Professional Practice in the Faculty of Climate at the Columbia Climate School. “We are excited to equip executives with the tools and knowledge to navigate the ever-changing real-world business challenges and opportunities of climate change.”

The Firm reported on its programs to support building healthy businesses in its CD&R Builds Report.  “Many of our companies are already creating value through initiatives such as converting waste into reusable plastic pellets and other byproducts and procuring strict third-party product and process certifications that meet and drive customer demand. This program is designed to help upskill our colleagues who choose to participate in identifying and driving changes to create and protect value." said Vindi Banga, Operating Partner and Chair of CD&R’s Sustainability Council.

About CD&R

Founded in 1978, CD&R is a private investment firm with a strategy of generating strong investment returns by building more robust and sustainable businesses through the combination of skilled investment experience and deep operating capabilities. In partnership with the management teams of its portfolio companies, CD&R takes a long-term view of value creation and emphasizes effective stewardship and resilience. The firm invests in businesses that span a broad range of industries, including industrial, healthcare, consumer, technology and financial services end markets. CD&R is privately owned by its partners and has offices in New York and London. For more information, please visit www.cdr-inc.com and follow the firm's activities through LinkedIn and @CDRBuilds on X/Twitter.

About Columbia Climate School

To address the urgent challenges facing our planet, the Columbia Climate School was launched in 2020 to educate future climate leaders, support groundbreaking research and foster essential solutions. Climate School Executive Education and Non-Degree programs bring the research and educational resources of Columbia University’s Climate School to promote action building upon its academic work and evidence-based analysis and advice to inform decisions, as well as policy-making in communities, governments, industries, and nonprofits in the US and globally.