Ceres Welcomes New Ceres Board Co-Chairs and President’s Council Members

August 12, 2024 /3BL/ - The Boston-based sustainability nonprofit advocacy organization Ceres has announced new co-chairs of its Board of Directors and members to its President’s Council.

In February, the Ceres Board of Directors unanimously approved Inherent Group CEO Tony Davis and Janet Ranganathan, Managing Director and Executive Vice President of Strategy, Learning, and Results at the World Resources Institute (WRI), as its new Board co-chairs.

“I am honored to serve as co-chair of the Ceres Board of Directors,” said Davis. “I look forward to working alongside my fellow Board members and Ceres staff to advance our important mission. Time is short. We must urgently tackle climate change and reduce its impacts on people and the planet. Investors, corporations, and policymakers have a vital role to play—and Ceres is uniquely positioned to work with these groups to improve outcomes for all.”

"I am excited to become co-chair of the Ceres Board, supporting an organization at the forefront of transforming capital markets by harnessing the power of its investor and corporate networks,” said Ranganathan. “Ceres leads with courage, forging a more inclusive and sustainable future for our planet.”

Ceres former Board chair, Barney Schauble, Senior Advisor at Nephila, stepped down in June after 13 years on the Board, of which seven he served as chair. Schauble now serves on Ceres President’s Council.

“I was proud to serve on the Ceres Board for 13 years, the last seven as chair, before stepping down this summer. I am delighted that Tony and Janet have agreed to lead the Board as co-chairs and I am excited to see the ongoing evolution of Ceres under their leadership,” said Schauble. “I believe Ceres plays a unique role at the intersection of climate, sustainability, and capital markets, and I look forward to continuing my involvement with the organization as a President’s Council member.”

"It has been a tremendous pleasure to work alongside Barney, and I am incredibly grateful for his steadfast leadership and support,” said Ceres CEO and President Mindy Lubber. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Tony and Janet as Ceres looks ahead to continue to address the systemic threats of climate change, water scarcity and pollution, and nature and biodiversity loss during this consequential period.”

Ceres has also welcomed two new President’s Council members: Kunle Apampa, Director and Head of Client Solutions at Capricorn Investment Group, and Missy Grace, Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Alpine Rewards. Members serve as ambassadors for Ceres and help to enhance the organization’s impact through direct support, expertise, and outreach.

“I am honored to join the Ceres President's Council and to be part of a community that is committed to driving sustainable change,” said Apampa. “I look forward to contributing to our collective efforts in advancing best practices that will shape a more resilient and equitable future for all.”

“I am thrilled to join the Ceres President’s Council because I care deeply about creating a cleaner, fairer, and more sustainable world,” said Grace. “The Council allows me to work with others who share my passion and to take real steps toward making a positive impact on the environment and society.”

Ceres Board is made up of 25 members and the President’s Council is made up of 34 members. Learn more here. 

Meet our new Board co-chairs:

Tony Davis 
Tony Davis is CEO and CIO of Inherent Group, an investment management firm focused on the equity and credit markets. The firm uses environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors to source and underwrite core investments. Through its engagement with companies, the firm aims to inspire investors and managers to incorporate sustainability into their decisions and to encourage business more broadly to address environmental and social challenges. Inherent manages $1 billion in public and private investments.

Janet Ranganathan 
Janet Ranganathan is the Managing Director and Executive Vice President for Strategy, Learning, and Results at WRI, a global research organization that addresses the urgent sustainability challenges related to food, forests, water, climate, energy, cities and the ocean. She leads the development and execution of WRI’s five-year strategy and oversees WRI’s Research Integrity, Managing for Results, and Data Lab teams.

Meet our new President’s Council members: 

Kunle Apampa

Kunle Apampa is a Director and Head of Client Solutions at Capricorn Investment Group, one of the largest mission-aligned investment firms globally managing $9 billion in assets on behalf of families, foundations, and institutional investors. Kunle is responsible for the growth of Capricorn as an Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) for private families and foundations.

Missy Grace

Missy Grace is an executive with more than three decades of management consulting, human resources, leadership development and operations experience in boutique consulting firms, technology start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. She is currently one of the Founders and the Chief Operating Officer of Alpine Rewards, a strategic advisory firm focusing on executive compensation and employee rewards in the Life Sciences and Technology sectors.

About Ceres 

Ceres is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just, and sustainable world. United under a shared vision, our powerful networks of investors and companies are proving sustainability is the bottom line—changing markets and sectors from the inside out. For more information, visit ceres.org.

Media Contact: Sara Sciammacco, [email protected]