WASHINGTON – July 25, 2024 | Verra, the world’s leading standards-setter for climate action and sustainable development, announced today that, following an extensive search process, its Board of Directors is appointing Mandy Rambharos as its chief executive officer (CEO), effective August 12. Mandy succeeds Judith Simon, who has been interim CEO since founding CEO David Antonioli left.
Mandy’s selection was made after an extensive search by a leading global search firm and driven by the goal of selecting a CEO with demonstrated leadership in shaping the carbon markets, extensive relationships with stakeholders, a proven record of success in implementation, and a commitment to Verra’s mission. Mandy brings a wealth of experience in the carbon markets to the role. For over 15 years, she was a negotiator for South Africa and Africa at the United Nations climate talks and chaired negotiations on carbon markets (CDM and Article 6). This experience will be invaluable as she guides Verra’s strategy and as the broader voluntary carbon market continues to evolve.
Mandy was instrumental in the Just Energy Transition Partnership agreed at COP26 in Glasgow between South Africa and Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. This background has led to her recognition as a thought leader on the global stage and given her extensive relationships across the industry, from government to private to nonprofit sectors. Mandy also served on the Verra Board of Directors from 2019 to 2021 before rejoining in 2023.
“We are delighted to welcome Mandy as our new CEO. Her experience is unparalleled, and we are confident that her poise and expertise in organizational excellence her decades of work in the carbon markets will allow her to hit the ground running on day one and lead Verra. We look forward to an exciting future under her leadership. On behalf of the entire board, I would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to Judith for her leadership and dedication during this transition period. Her commitment has been invaluable, ensuring stability and continuity for our organization.”
A current Verra Board member, Mandy brings a deep understanding of the organization to her new role. This eliminates the need for an extended learning curve and enables the organization to focus on the urgent demands of the climate crisis. She takes the helm of Verra from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), where she served as vice president for global climate cooperation, leading EDF’s strategy to promote well-designed carbon pricing and markets that support the transformation toward a low-emissions future.
“I am honored to lead the organization I have had the privilege to work with as a Board member. As I assume this new role, I will drive strong governance, responsive global stakeholder engagement that is inclusive and transparent, efficient processes with quick turnaround times, and that ultimately deliver our common goal—reducing carbon emissions for a climate-resilient, flourishing planet for all.”
During her tenure as interim CEO, Judith launched the New Era for Verra initiative to promote the most impact within the organization—operational excellence, enhanced program integrity and impact, and accountability. In addition, Judith has enhanced relationships with governments, particularly those in developing countries, resulting in eight new Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) for relevant activities with governments.
Prior to her work at EDF, Mandy spent 20 years at South Africa’s Eskom Holdings, the largest electric utility on the African continent, where she was instrumental in developing the utility’s transition from a coal-dominated utility to a renewables company. Mandy’s efforts laid the groundwork for Eskom to meet its target of reducing carbon emissions by 71 million metric tons a year by the end of the decade, as it announced last month. She also served on South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission, where she advised on the country’s pursuit of its Just Energy Transition (external), promoting clean energy jobs, social justice, and poverty eradication.
“Carbon markets are crucial to enable carbon neutrality and they must work efficiently and with unquestionable integrity. I look forward to working with the talented people at Verra to deliver these outcomes for a climate-resilient future for us all,” said Mandy.
Contact:
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Verra is a global leader helping to tackle the world’s most intractable environmental and social challenges. As a mission-driven non-profit organization, Verra is committed to helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve livelihoods, and protect natural resources by working with the private and public sectors. We support climate action and sustainable development with standards, tools, and programs that credibly, transparently and robustly assess environmental and social impacts and enable funding for sustaining and scaling up projects that verifiably deliver these benefits.