Sustainability governance

The Board of Directors takes an active and formative role in connection with our responsible corporate governance and it addresses the Group’s sustainability management several times a year. As the highest management and administrative body, it is responsible for approving the main sustainability topics, the Sustainability Strategy and the sustainability targets defined therein, as well as for overseeing the sustainability management of the Helvetia Baloise Group. It maintains active and regular dialogue with internal and external stakeholders to assess the specific impact of business activities from different perspectives, identify important sustainability trends at an early stage and incorporate economic, environmental and social responsibility into strategic corporate management in an appropriate manner.

The Executive Management is responsible for implementing the Group-wide Sustainability Strategy. It regularly addresses sustainability issues, reviews and defines the main sustainability topics, develops and manages the implementation of the Sustainability Strategy – including guidelines, measures and targets – and reports the progress to the Board of Directors. In particular, the Executive Management is responsible for embedding sustainability management requirements in all relevant areas of the company, such as risk management, underwriting, claims management, investment management, corporate governance and human resources management.

The Group Sustainability Committee (GSC) supports the Board of Directors through strategic guidance, oversight and coordination. In addition, the GSC acts as an escalation and decision-making body for the integration of sustainability topics, with the exception of risk management and individual transaction decisions. These decisions remain at Executive Management or Board of Directors level.

The Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) assumes operational leadership and leads cross-divisional initiatives to implement the sustainability strategy. The CSO monitors implementation progress and supports the market areas accordingly. In addition, the CSO advises the Executive Management and the Board of Directors on identifying and assessing material sustainability topics.

Sustainability management in the market areas is led by the local executive boards and supported by local sustainability officers. They are responsible for implementing the Sustainability Strategy on the ground, monitoring target achievement and ensuring compliance with local regulatory requirements. The sustainability officers report to the local Chief Risk Officer and functionally to the Group CSO to ensure alignment between Group-wide targets and local implementation.