Suzano appoints Cristina Gil as Executive Director of Sustainability and Executive Board member


Suzano, the world’s leading eucalyptus pulp and paper producer and a global benchmark in the manufacture of bioproducts developed from eucalyptus, announces its appointment of Cristina Gil as Executive Director of Sustainability. In this role, Cristina will lead Suzano’s established sustainability team, directing their focus across both environmental and social development initiatives. She joins Suzano’s Executive Board and will report directly to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Walter Schalka. Over the next few months, Cristina will manage a handover of activities with Pablo Machado, who was temporarily heading the Sustainability Executive Board. Once this handover is completed, Machado will continue as Executive Director of Suzano’s China business.

Cristina is a specialist in education and conservation in Latin America and the United States. She brings over 20 years of experience working across a range of sustainability-focused roles at both large companies and non-profit organizations to Suzano’s ESG and sustainability focused leadership team.

Walter Schalka, CEO of Suzano, commented: “We are delighted to announce Cristina’s appointment to our executive board and sustainability team. At Suzano, we recognize that our sustainability and ESG journey is far from complete. We are committed to continuously reviewing and advancing the company’s position in this regard and we will go on doing this in a number of ways including investing in the strategic growth of our team.”

Cristina Gil, Executive Director of Sustainability at Suzano, said: “When it comes to sustainability and the future of our planet, Suzano is already one of the most forward-thinking companies in the world. I am thrilled to have joined Suzano’s sustainability team and executive board with whom I will work closely to continue the brilliant work already underway, as well as drive forward new initiatives across the business to ensure that we never fall behind our ambition to be a global sustainability leader.”

Prior to her role at Suzano, Cristina was Vice President of Sustainability at Orbia, a community of companies bound by a shared purpose. At Orbia, Cristina was responsible for developing and implementing a global sustainability strategy, as well as driving, documenting and communicating the company’s sustainability efforts.  Earlier roles also include positions at The Nature Conservancy, RARE Conservation, Pronatura, Fundacion EDUCA and World Education and Development Fund (United States).

Cristina is a board member of the Global Reporting Initiative, the World Environment Center, and was recently a judge for the Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards.