DSS+ establishes external advisory board

DSS+, a Swiss-headquartered operational and workplace safety consulting firm, has created an external impact advisory board (IAB).

The IAB – which operates in an advisory capacity and has no fiduciary responsibility – gathers the expertise and insights of leaders from a diverse range of industries and geographies. The seven inaugural members will advise DSS+ on macro and industry trends, business model development, innovation, and impact maximization.

“Our clients and partners are adopting more sustainable business models and embracing emerging technologies in their quest to stay relevant in a dynamic market," said Melissa Barrett, managing director for practices and impact. "We at dss+ understand how to drive such transformations as a specialist sustainable operations consultancy that takes a human-centered approach. Now, with the support and counsel of the IAB, we will be able to apply additional industry and innovation insights in our work with clients to help them evolve and deliver impact well into the future."The seven advisory board members:

Xavier Bontemps is a manufacturing and health, safety, and environment (HSE) leader with 35+ years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He currently serves as board chair of Noven Group Infra SAS and executive HSE consultant for DSS+. Bontemps was previously SVP of HSE at Total Energies and manager of refining manufacturing at Ineos.

Betül Susamis Unaran is an executive specializing in commercial and digital transformation in the healthcare industry. She is currently chief commercial officer and executive board member at Unilabs, as well as a board director at Ypsomed AG and an advisory board member at Lumanity.

Juan Gabriel Aguiriano Nalda is an executive with 25+ years of experience in food, chemicals, and fibers, with expertise in business turnaround, organizational leadership and development, and change management. He is group head of sustainability and technology ventures at Kerry Group and a board advisor at Rice in Action.

Alexa Dembek is a leader focusing on corporate sustainability strategy. Dembek is chief technology and sustainability officer at DuPont and a board director at CoorsTek and Delaware Innovation Space. She is also on the dean’s advisory board at the Penn State Eberly College of Science.

Seema Arora is an expert in environmental management and sustainable development in India. She is deputy director general of the Confederation of Indian Industry and an advisor to the Indian government on issues relating to low-carbon growth strategy and sustainable development.

Alex Kuilman is an experienced executive coach and culture change consultant. He is a co-founder and retired partner of Mobius Executive Leadership, a global professional services firm.

Rafael Chaves Santos is an engineer and finance specialist with extensive experience in the Brazilian energy and mining sector. He is currently a professor of economics at FGV Brazil. He was previously board chair of the Brazilian Petroleum and Gas Institute and chief strategy and sustainability officer at Petrobras, and also held leadership roles at Vale and the Central Bank of Brazil.

DSS+ (formerly DuPont Sustainable Solutions) is the former consulting unit of chemical giant DuPont. The Geneva-based company was spun off in 2019 and is backed by private equity firm Gyrus Capital.

DSS+ specializes in operational improvement and workplace safety consulting for industrial firms and has more than 1,200 employees globally.

The company earlier this year bought Baltimore-based ADS System Safety Consulting.