Pentair axes CSO role in bid to ‘integrate sustainability further into business’

Regulatory filing reveals water firm will fit sustainability team into tech and innovation unit

Water treatment firm Pentair has “eliminated” the role of chief sustainability officer (CSO), claiming it will instead integrate sustainability into its wider business.  

The New York-listed company announced the changes in a regulatory filing last week, revealing that CSO Karen Robertson had left two days earlier.  

Robertson has been with Pentair for more than seven years, acting in a three-way role as CSO, general counsel and secretary since 2020.   

The company, which is incorporated in Ireland, describes itself as helping “the world sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water” and has been hailed as a green leader.  

Just this month, Corporate Knights ranked it in its 50 most sustainable European companies. 

In its most recent sustainability report, it shared details of its first assessment of Scope 3 emissions, and detailed its efforts to align with guidance from the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures. 

Pentair stated in its filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission that its sustainability team would be absorbed into its technology and innovation unit, “further advancing its focus on integrating sustainability efforts into the business and product innovation processes”.  

Robertson said in a LinkedIn post that her departure was “a reflection that sustainability is now well incorporated throughout Pentair”. She did not disclose her next role. 

Pentair had not responded to a request for comment.