EY appoints Colm Devine as Global Vice Chair for Sustainability, succeeding Amy Brachio after her 30-year tenure.
Devine to lead EY’s global sustainability agenda, focusing on decarbonization, digital transformation, and client strategy integration.
EY targets a 50% emissions reduction by 2030, alongside full renewable energy procurement and expanded supply chain collaboration.
A Leadership Shift in Global Sustainability
EY has named Colm Devine as its new Global Vice Chair for Sustainability, marking a significant leadership transition for one of the world’s largest professional services firms. Devine succeeds Amy Brachio, who recently retired after three decades at EY and now leads the climate-tech firm Carbon Measures.
With more than 20 years at EY, Devine steps into the role at a critical juncture for corporate sustainability leadership. He will oversee both the firm’s internal environmental strategy and its client-facing advisory on energy transition, risk, and technology integration. EY’s sustainability mandate spans more than 150 countries and 700 offices, supported by a workforce of roughly 400,000 professionals.
A Career Shaped by Energy, Risk, and Transformation
Devine joined EY in 2003 after starting his career at Deloitte, later becoming EY’s Power & Utilities Sector Leader for the UK and Ireland. His background blends consulting, risk management, and corporate finance — experience that positions him to link ESG imperatives with capital market realities.
He has led more than 600 organisations through IPO readiness and transformation processes, working with private equity funds, industrials, and energy clients across Europe and the US. His focus on digital transformation and AI-driven sustainability solutions aligns with EY’s strategy to merge technology with decarbonisation pathways.
On LinkedIn, Devine described his mission as helping both EY and its clients “achieve their sustainability agenda, particularly transformation, leveraging technology and AI.” He emphasised that EY’s global structure allows teams to “draw upon a depth of resource” and deliver the most experienced expertise through internal knowledge sharing.
Advancing EY’s Climate and Nature Commitments
EY’s internal sustainability goals form a key part of Devine’s new remit. The firm aims to halve its absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared with its 2019 baseline. The plan includes procuring 100% renewable electricity and integrating nature metrics for water, waste, and pollution.
EY is also developing frameworks to embed ecosystem preservation and circular economy principles across its operations and supply chain. This aligns with broader professional services trends, as major firms integrate biodiversity and nature-based accounting into their ESG reporting practices.
Devine’s appointment reinforces EY’s position as both an advisor and practitioner of sustainability, leveraging its Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) teams to support large-scale client transformations. These services integrate governance, tax, technology, and operational strategy to help organisations meet net-zero and disclosure requirements.
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From Legacy to Next-Gen Leadership
Amy Brachio, Devine’s predecessor, spent 30 years with EY, rising from intern to Global Vice Chair for Sustainability. She guided EY’s transition toward integrating climate risk and stakeholder trust into business strategy. In her farewell message, Brachio wrote that she was “full of gratitude for the experiences and friendships” during her tenure and expressed confidence in EY’s continued leadership in shaping “a more sustainable future.”
Her move to lead Carbon Measures — a data-driven emissions management firm — reflects the broader industry trend of senior ESG leaders bridging consulting, technology, and impact measurement.
What Executives Should Watch
EY’s leadership change comes amid escalating scrutiny on corporate sustainability claims and the need for credible, data-backed transition plans. Devine’s blend of risk expertise and digital acumen points to a phase where ESG advisory will increasingly rely on technology-enabled assurance, AI-based risk modelling, and policy-aligned decarbonisation finance.
For C-suite leaders and investors, the appointment signals EY’s intent to deepen its influence across climate finance, renewable transition, and sustainable governance advisory — domains where regulatory and fiduciary expectations continue to tighten.
As global firms navigate climate disclosure mandates and transition risks, EY’s evolving leadership under Devine will likely shape how sustainability strategies are operationalised across markets — from boardroom oversight to balance sheet resilience.
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