Tony’s Chocolonely to nominate impartial ‘mission guardians’ to assist defend sustainability pledge

Tony’s Chocolonely has launched a authorized mechanism to stop shareholders from rolling again on the corporate’s sustainability pledge.

The new governing construction includes “golden shares” to guard the chocolate firm’s intention of eradicating inequality and exploitation within the trade, no matter future shareholder constructions.

It will probably be overseen by three impartial “mission guardians” – entrepreneur Seth Goldman, British-Nigerian presenter Ikenna Azuike and former Tony’s board member Anne-Wil Dijkstra.

The measures, which will probably be signed off at this time, may even permit the trio to carry the corporate’s management to account in the event that they imagine there was a breach of Tony’s mission-related obligations.

If working with senior administration fails to unravel the issue then they will escalate their issues publicly or refer the matter for authorized investigation and arbitration on the Enterprise Chamber of the Court of Appeal in Amsterdam.

Mr Goldman stated: “I’ve learnt from my own experience that even when we create companies with the highest aspirations in mission, times change, people change, new people come in, and organisations change too, so no mission is guaranteed.

“I hope we will function advocates for all folks and communities all over the world which can be served and supported by Tony’s 5 sourcing rules.

“Like anything new and unproven, I’m sure we will learn along the way. But I also hope our approach can become a model for other purpose-driven brands.”

Listen and subscribe to the Ian King Business Podcast right here

Tony’s chief government Douglas Lamont stated he hopes the transfer will encourage different manufacturers to “look more closely at what they can do to secure their mission too”.

He added: “A growing number of purpose-driven companies are looking for ways to secure their impact models at the core of their business permanently and irrevocably, independent of shareholder structure.”