Marie-Claire Daveu
Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer, Kering
She was an environmental adviser to a former French prime minister and is passionate about making luxury brands more sustainable.
Before entering the luxury goods industry in 2012 as Kering’s chief sustainability and institutional affairs officer, Marie Claire Daveu was a celebrated public servant in her native France. A member of Kering’s Executive Committee, Marie-Claire Daveu is also a Board member of AgroParisTech.
During her time at the French company, Daveu has overseen Kering’s ascendance to become a vocal champion of sustainability in the industry thanks to the group's decision to go public with its sustainability targets. In the Corporate Knights’ 2019 Global 100 Index announced at the World Economic Forum, Kering was named the second-most sustainable company across all industries worldwide and first in Luxury and fashion.
“Of course we don’t say we’re perfect and everything is right… we have to try to do our best,” says Daveu. “It means we are the best, but each day each one can change something. This is the spirit in the Kering group: 'You can do something and you have to do something.'"
After embarking on a career as a senior civil servant in the field of agriculture and the environment, Daveu occupied the post of Technical adviser to the Cabinet of Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, the principal private secretary to Serge Lepeltier, Minister of ecology and sustainable development, before entering the private sector in 2005 as head of sustainable development at the Sanofi-Aventis Group.
Daveu served as chief of staff to Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet while she was minister of Forward Planning, Assessment of Public Policies and Development of the Digital Economy from 2009 to 2010, as well as during her term as Secretary of State for Ecology from 2007 to 2009.
In 2010 Daveu became chief of staff for the French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing, a role she held until March 2012, when she joined Kering.
Daveu holds a degree in Rural Engineering, Water and Forests from ENGREF and has a Masters (DESS) in public administration from Paris-Dauphine University. In addition she holds a degree in agricultural engineering from the Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon.
Career History
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Kering Sets Goal to Decouple Growth From Climate Impact
The French luxury giant is betting on higher prices and a suite of emerging supply-chain initiatives to help keep growing its business while cutting total greenhouse gas emissions.
Kering Sets Goal to Decouple Growth From Climate Impact
The French luxury giant is betting on higher prices and a suite of emerging supply-chain initiatives to help keep growing its business while cutting total greenhouse gas emissions.
Responsibility: How Can Luxury Balance Profit and With Purpose?
Can a business based on changing our clothes change its ways?
Responsibility: How Can Luxury Balance Profit and With Purpose?
Can a business based on changing our clothes change its ways?
Kering CEO Says Fur Has ‘No Place in Luxury’
Kering brands like Gucci and Bottega Veneta banned fur years ago, but the French luxury group is extending the policy across all its labels.
Kering CEO Says Fur Has ‘No Place in Luxury’
Kering brands like Gucci and Bottega Veneta banned fur years ago, but the French luxury group is extending the policy across all its labels.
Why Big Brands Are Investing in Sustainability Start-Ups
This year, Ralph Lauren and Lululemon have joined the likes of H&M Group, Kering and Chanel in pouring money into innovations that could reduce the industry’s environmental impact.
Why Big Brands Are Investing in Sustainability Start-Ups
This year, Ralph Lauren and Lululemon have joined the likes of H&M Group, Kering and Chanel in pouring money into innovations that could reduce the industry’s environmental impact.
Will Fashion Ever Be Good for the World? Its Future May Depend on It.
The Covid-19 pandemic has put financial pressure on businesses, threatening their sustainability agendas. But aligning profit and purpose, and fulfilling responsibilities to the planet and communities of people beyond shareholders may matter more than ever to long-term success.
Will Fashion Ever Be Good for the World? Its Future May Depend on It.
The Covid-19 pandemic has put financial pressure on businesses, threatening their sustainability agendas. But aligning profit and purpose, and fulfilling responsibilities to the planet and communities of people beyond shareholders may matter more than ever to long-term success.
Investing in the Sustainability Sisterhood
Female impact investors are putting their money where their mouth is, backing sustainable fashion companies and hoping their bets pay off in more ways than one. But how savvy are values-based investments in the post-pandemic reality?
Investing in the Sustainability Sisterhood
Female impact investors are putting their money where their mouth is, backing sustainable fashion companies and hoping their bets pay off in more ways than one. But how savvy are values-based investments in the post-pandemic reality?
Fashion's Growth-Focused Business Model Is Not Sustainable. What's the Solution?
The industry has yet to solve the trade-off that selling more clothes, bags and shoes fundamentally requires more resources.
Fashion's Growth-Focused Business Model Is Not Sustainable. What's the Solution?
The industry has yet to solve the trade-off that selling more clothes, bags and shoes fundamentally requires more resources.
What Fashion Can Learn from a Decade of Disasters
As the fashion industry heads into a new decade, it is facing more pressure than ever before to clean up its act when it comes to climate change and human rights. Whether or not it does could determine which brands survive the next 10 years.
What Fashion Can Learn from a Decade of Disasters
As the fashion industry heads into a new decade, it is facing more pressure than ever before to clean up its act when it comes to climate change and human rights. Whether or not it does could determine which brands survive the next 10 years.
Fashion Loves Carbon Offsets. Are They Enough?
Carbon offsets are a tempting solution to fashion's climate problems, but they're no quick fix for the complex challenges facing the industry.
Fashion Loves Carbon Offsets. Are They Enough?
Carbon offsets are a tempting solution to fashion's climate problems, but they're no quick fix for the complex challenges facing the industry.
Can Fashion’s Latest Sustainability Drive Make a Difference?
Brands are signing up to sustainability initiatives like they’re invitations to fashion week’s hottest parties. The jury’s out on whether their commitments will translate into real industry reform.
Can Fashion’s Latest Sustainability Drive Make a Difference?
Brands are signing up to sustainability initiatives like they’re invitations to fashion week’s hottest parties. The jury’s out on whether their commitments will translate into real industry reform.
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The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
