Meet Alan Richards: Chief Operating Officer and Head of Corporate Sustainability

Alan Richards is Chief Operating Officer and Head of Corporate Sustainability at kp. He sits on the executive leadership team and works hand in hand with subject matter experts across the business to push the organisation to be more sustainable in every sense of the word. He lives in Wales, UK, and splits his time between our London office, his home office, and travelling to our sites around the world.

• Lead and continuously improve kp's operations to be more sustainable and future-ready, in collaboration with the operations and sustainability function and subject matter experts.
• Direct the sustainability agenda, including the three strategic objectives: Close the Loop, Work Smarter and Act Responsibly, with a focus on delivering measurable outcomes.
• Work with cross-functional teams worldwide and manage direct reports to implement sustainable solutions that improve efficiency and minimize environmental impact.
• Celebrate and support team development; foster an environment where people thrive and are encouraged to move along career paths and develop new skills within kp.
• Achieve and maintain sustainability milestones (e.g., zero waste to landfill across kp's global footprint wherever it was legally possible to do so).

• Has been with kp for six years; brings experience from a multinational organisation and works across diverse teams to drive sustainability and operations improvements.
• Leads sustainability strategy with a hands-on operational background and a track record of delivering results across a global footprint.
• Demonstrates leadership in collaborating with site teams, direct reports, and the management team to set direction and ensure kp remains relevant and resilient.
• Active involvement with employee resource networks (ERNs); executive sponsor for kp's VOICED ERN focusing on ethnic equity.