General counsel Sharon Haward-Laird is executive committee sponsor for sustainability
BMO Financial Group has been named to Corporate Knights' 2022 Ranking of the World's 100 Most Sustainable Corporations and, for the third year in a row, is ranked as the most sustainable bank in North America. BMO is also ranked eighth out of 751 banks, globally.
"At BMO our purpose is to boldly grow the good in business and life for a thriving economy, a sustainable future and an inclusive society," said Sharon Haward-Laird, general counsel, BMO Financial Group, and executive committee sponsor for sustainability. "We're excited to be recognized for the progress we're making responding to some of today's most pressing issues, from climate change to diversity, equity and inclusion. We look forward to leveraging our position as a leading financial services organization to create opportunities, lift communities and foster a more sustainable world."
BMO, which has been carbon neutral in its own operations since 2010, ranked in the top quartile for clean revenue and diversity on its board and among its leadership.
In March, 2021, BMO announced its ‘climate ambition’ with a commitment to deploy $300 billion in sustainable lending and underwriting to companies pursuing sustainable outcomes by 2025. BMO is focused on being a partner to its clients in their transition to a net zero future and, since December 2019, has completed green and sustainability-linked loans for companies in a range of sectors, with targets including sustainability, diversity, and health and safety.
Haward-Laird oversees the bank’s ethics, ombudsman, sustainability and investigations practices in addition to leading the bank’s legal and regulatory compliance groups.
