Ten years after its inception in 2006 by five visionary entrepreneurs, South Pole Group has blossomed into a thriving organisation: with more than 130 employees from over 25 different nationalities, spread out over 16 offices around the globe, it has gone from project developer to leading sustainability solutions provider. Renamed 'South Pole Group' just about a year ago, the company now celebrates its first decade and looks back on its journey, its lessons learnt and impacts created.
"Our initial vision of a sustainable society and economy that positively impact our climate, ecosystems and communities is still the reason why we exist today," says Renat Heuberger, founder and CEO of South Pole Group. "The relevance of our work has ensured our success throughout all these years, even during tougher times."
The company's new name and branding also reflect its move beyond being an emission reduction project developer, wholesaler and retailer: extended expertise now focuses around the key business lines of carbon credit solutions, renewable energy, sustainability advisory and green finance. South Pole Group has grown to become one of the major global advisors for climate-related policies, sustainable supply chains and climate impact assessment for investments.
"Our restructuring has helped us become better at serving both our public and private clients," notes Patrick Burgi, founder and current Director for Public Sector, South Pole Group. "To date, we have had the pleasure to work successfully with over 1000 organisations, spanning a broad range of diverse industries and including important actors such as SAP, Swiss Re, Cathay Pacific, DHL, Starwood, Coca-Cola, the Inter-American Development Bank, JP Morgan and the World Bank - among many others."
"This is an exciting time for us: over the years, we have really managed to bring together the best mix of minds needed to address the formidable challenge of climate change," says Christoph Grobbel, CFO, Chairman of the Board. "We look forward to the next decade!"
The company now looks ahead: With the inking of the Paris Agreement at the COP21 climate conference, South Pole Group is ever more determined to turn climate change into an enormous opportunity for businesses and organisations alike.
"We want to thank our clients and partners for all that has been accomplished during this incredible 10 year journey. We will continue serving our customers with in-depth market knowledge and make sure to get them ready for 2020 and beyond," underlines Thomas Camerata, one of the founders and currently Director of Product Marketing at South Pole Group.
The 10 year anniversary will see commemorations throughout 2016, including the launch of an anniversary logo, and celebrations by South Pole penguins all around the globe.
