Holly Crilly, left, and Melanie Levine, of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, are seen in their Chicago office on June 17, 2024. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development has opened an office in the heart of downtown Chicago, the second U.S. location for the council.
“Our engagement is much more practical now than it was in the past,” Bakker said. “We’re talking about how to decarbonize supply chain and operations, the products coming to the market. That also means we need to be closer to these companies than we were before.” The Chicago office employs three people, with plans to expand in the next year or so, said Holly Crilly, the council’s director for key accounts for North America and head of the Chicago office.
The council’s North American headquarters, which are in New York City, opened about 15 years ago. Chicago was chosen as the next U.S. location after a six-month search process, according to the council. Bakker said about 30% of the council’s U.S.-based members are headquartered in or around Chicago, including McDonald’s, ADM and Spencer Stuart.
“We look forward to continuing to support initiatives and collaborations that drive sustainable development and foster innovation in Chicago and beyond,” Clement said.