TD Synnex report stresses sustainability, gender parity | US Foods puts electric trucks on the road in Calif. | Smith, Schuenke to retire from Sonepar later this year
TD Synnex has outlined its global environmental, social and corporate governance goals in the company's first corporate citizenship report, including a vow to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045 and a new program to train employees in sustainability. The company also aims to have women in 40% of leadership roles and represent 50% of total staff by 2030.
US Foods has deployed 30 zero-emission electric trucks at its distribution center in La Mirada, Calif., as part of the foodservice distributor's plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 32.5% over the next decade. The company reported $8.52 billion in revenue and net income of $93 million for the fourth quarter.
Sonepar USA's Chief Information Officer Mike Smith and Vice President of Strategic Development for North America Scott Schuenke plan to step down in June. "I worked with an incredibly talented team, saw the world, and helped build a foundation that can scale," said Smith, who was president of OneSource Distributors when it was acquired by Sonepar.
While the move away from fossil fuels advances, and the need for firms that operate commercial vehicle fleets to switch to electric grows inevitable, Tim Krauskopf of Motiv Power Systems contends many firms are still unsure how to start that process. Finding trustworthy EV vendors is a good starting point, Krauskopf notes, as they can advise on the available tax advantages for purchasers, as well as address issues such as scaling additions to the fleet.
Millennials and members of Generation Z now fill 64% of chief purchasing roles and most have stringent requirements when working with business-to-business e-commerce companies, according to a Forrester Research report. "Lack of understanding about millennial and Gen Z buying behaviors can adversely affect providers' ability to reach, engage, and ultimately win these buyers over," Forrester's Amy Hayes said.
Laying off workers is one of the most painful tasks a leader can ever do, but Denise Lee Yohn says in this video if you do it with "compassion, empathy and integrity" you will pass the leadership "litmus test." "Consider how you might preserve the dignity of those who are laid off by handling affairs with sensitivity and discretion; or how you might show sincere gratitude and respect for their contributions by communicating one-on-one and offering long-term support," Yohn notes.
Employees are more likely to stay with a company when there is a culture of open communications and they have access not just to their managers, but C-suite executives -- including the CEO -- as well, writes communication expert Julie Baron. "Communication can help make an organization a place where people want to work, not leave," Baron writes.
