CIMB to catalyse the development of sustainability talent pool through dedicated talent programmes

03 October 2022

The Group aims to address the gap in the sustainability talent pool through talent development programmes for fresh graduates and employees, as well as mid-career professionals looking to shift to a sustainability career track

Kuala Lumpur: CIMB Group Holdings Berhad (“CIMB” or “the Group”) today announced the introduction of dedicated sustainability talent programmes to address the talent pool gap in this fast-growing area as organisations increasingly embrace environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) adoption. The Group will spearhead sustainability training and capacity building for those interested in careers in this area, including fresh graduates, employees and mid-career professionals, through the following:

1.       Establishing a Sustainability Academy. An academy will be set up as a vehicle for capacity building to accelerate CIMB’s sustainability agenda, starting with internal talent. The academy will provide a full spectrum of sustainability training programmes and competency-based learning interventions, with tailored content to equip talent with the required knowledge and expertise to excel in this space. The aim is to develop a pipeline of diversely skilled talent who will benefit not only CIMB, but also the broader ecosystem over the long term in collectively driving the ESG agenda.

2.       Introducing a sustainability track into CIMB’s signature two-year The Complete Banker™ (“TCB”) Programme. This extension of CIMB’s established graduate trainee programme will allow young graduates to gain broad exposure to different areas within sustainability and build their experience by placing them in relevant roles across the Group. The programme will include rotations and management shadowing opportunities within CIMB’s Group Sustainability division as well as sustainability-related areas across various business units, including opportunities in the wider ASEAN region.

3.       Adding sustainability-focused partner organisations to CIMB’s TCB-Fusion programme. CIMB’s TCB-Fusion programme, where students get to experience working with CIMB in addition to other organisations before finalising their preferred career path, will include partnerships with WWF-Malaysia, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (“RSPO”) and other sustainability-focused partners. The programme aims to enable young Malaysian talents to gain exposure to various opportunities and career paths within the field.

4.       Introducing a mid-career internship programme. Targeted at mid-career professionals who are keen to shift to a sustainability career track, the programme will be available for non-sustainability talents with around 5 years of working experience.

Gurdip Singh Sidhu, Group Chief People Officer & Group Chief Sustainability Officer of CIMB Group said, “The Sustainability imperative is and will accelerate in its influence on capital mobilisation and dislocation globally. As CIMB intensifies our efforts in this ESG space, scaling up our talent pool is critical. We are introducing dedicated sustainability talent programmes which will contribute meaningfully towards broadening and deepening the talent pool. This effort will not only benefit CIMB’s sustainability goals, but also address the scarcity of talent in this critical field across the broader ecosystem.”

“The programmes will help CIMB to attract top talent from across various career stages. Young talent especially wants stronger alignment between purpose and the work they do. They are keen to gain exposure to work that addresses the complex environmental and social risks faced by society such as climate change and economic empowerment. We look forward to continue engaging in sustainability capacity building and knowledge sharing across the Group, in line with our ambition to be an ASEAN sustainability leader by 2024,” he added.

Sustainability is a key priority of CIMB under its Forward23+ strategic plan. It recently adopted a sustainability regional operating model with dedicated subject matter experts embedded across the Group’s businesses. They are, in turn, supported by the Group Sustainability division which drives CIMB’s overall sustainability strategy and initiatives, provides advisory support to business units, and engages in advocacy and capacity building. In 2021, CIMB’s Board of Directors established a Group Sustainability and Governance Committee to provide greater oversight and accountability in delivering on the Group’s sustainability agenda.

The Group recently strengthened its sustainability commitment by doubling its sustainable finance target to RM60 billion by 2024 under the Group’s Green, Social, Sustainable Impact Products and Services (“GSSIPS”) Framework. As announced during CIMB’s flagship The Cooler Earth Sustainability Summit 2022 themed ‘Facilitating a Just Transition’, the increased commitment was made as CIMB has already mobilised its earlier announced target of RM30 billion two years ahead of plan.

The sustainable finance target complements a series of enhanced sustainability commitments announced by the Group in 2021, which include its target of achieving net zero Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions by 2030, and Net Zero emissions including scope 3 financed emissions by 2050.