"Standing at the core of the ecosystem, we recognise our responsibility to manage the economic, environmental, and social impacts of our actions.
Our strategy focuses on being a Responsible Business to ensure success - bridging gaps between partners and vendors to achieve shared sustainability goals."
David Grant CEO at Westcon-Comstor
Message from the CEO
The IT channel ecosystem is at a pivotal juncture where the convergence of technological advancement and Responsible Business practices is not just desirable but essential. As we present Westcon-Comstor’s Responsible Report for 2024, our commitment to sustainable and ethical business practices stands at the forefront of our strategic vision and how we deliver Partner Success.
Standing at the core of the ecosystem, we recognise our responsibility to manage the economic, environmental, and social impacts of our actions. Our strategy focuses on being a Responsible Business to ensure success - bridging gaps between partners and vendors to achieve shared sustainability goals.
Our Responsible Business approach is built on three pillars: People, Planet, and Communities, all reinforced by strong Governance. For the People pillar, we've appointed Erna de Ruijter-Quist as our Chief People Officer (CPO) to lead a comprehensive strategy focused on inclusivity and strengthening connections among colleagues across regions.
Our Planet pillar highlights our dedication to tackling climate change, which affects all aspects of our business and society. By appointing Kevin Brzezinski as our first Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), we are driving initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint and promote environmental sustainability by collaborating with vendors and partners.
In terms of Communities, we strive to create value for the communities in which we operate. To strengthen connections between our colleagues and our local communities, we are piloting a social connection platform, OnHand in some of our EMEA countries giving our employees direct access to local volunteering opportunities.
Looking back, I'm proud that Westcon-Comstor became one of the first in our industry to have the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validate our climate goals, including our goal to reach net zero by 2050. We also received the Best ESG Project/Initiative of the Year award at the 2023 CRN awards, a testament to the strong foundation of our Responsible Business program.
Looking ahead, our strategic priorities include the rollout of our recently refreshed corporate health and safety policy to better protect the health and well-being of our greatest asset – our staff. We are also preparing for alignment with the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive to enhance our reporting capability and allow our partners to provide valuable feedback on our Responsible Business strategy. We will also continue investing in our supply chain sustainability program to drive meaningful change within our supply chain.
Together, we can build a resilient future for our industry and the world at large.
David Grant, CEO, Westcon-Comstor
