Gulfstream appoints new sustainability chief
Gulfstream Aerospace has hired Smitha Hariharan as vice president and chief sustainability officer.
Gulfstream Aerospace has appointed Smitha Hariharan as vice president and chief sustainability officer (CSO). In the newly-created role of CSO, Hariharan will drive the manufacturer’s “sustainable transformation” and align its business strategies with sustainability principles.
Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream welcomed Hariharan to her new role, which begins immediately. “Sustainability continues to be a major focus for our company and the business aviation industry”, he said. “Gulfstream is committed to supporting [parent company] General Dynamics’ goal of reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon dioxide emissions by 40% by 2034, relative to 2019.”
Hariharan’s expertise will help the OEM accelerate the pace of its sustainability progress, said Burns. “We look forward to the insights and knowledge she will bring as we continue to lead the industry in our efforts.”
He added: “Gulfstream is innovating for a sustainable future. We are committed to doing our part in advancing the industry forward to achieve our shared sustainability goals.”
Gulfstream’s next-generation aircraft offers fuel-efficiency gains of up to 33% over predecessor models, according to the manufacturer. The company has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 18% since 2014 while expanding facilities by 30%. In November 2023, Gulfstream completed the world’s first trans-Atlantic flight on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in both engines.
Earlier this year, Gulfstream joined the International Aerospace Environmental Group (IAEG) supplier assessment initiative to manage its environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk and compliance by guiding the sustainability performance improvement of its supply chain. Under the terms of this agreement, all Gulfstream suppliers will share their sustainability strategy to determine ESG risk and identify any opportunities to improve overall sustainability performance.
This voluntary programme is designed to accelerate sustainability performance and improvement within aerospace and its extended supply chain. The goal is to drive positive change and create a more sustainable and resilient supply chain, it said.
Meanwhile, Hariharan joins Gulfstream from Haliburton where she served as the global head of sustainability for Halliburton Energy Services. In this role, she developed Halliburton’s global short and long-term sustainability strategy and oversaw governance, internal and external benchmark data, as well as engagements with internal and external stakeholders.
