Dixons Carphone has appointed John Lewis executive Moira Thomas as the new group director of sustainability and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG).

Dixons store in Milton Keynes

Dixons said that the appointment was made in order to “elevate the business’s sustainability strategy across the group”.

In her role, Thomas will build on Dixons’ existing sustainability goals, including its pledge to achieve net zero carbon by 2040, transitioning its delivery fleet to electric vehicles, and its strategic partnership with Digital Access for All - which Dixons donated £1m towards earlier in 2021 to help disadvantaged pupils, parents and teachers.

Thomas has joined the electricals retailer from John Lewis, where she held a number of corporate social responsibility roles over a span of 15 years with the business.

In her most recent position, Thomas led the team which focused on protecting and increasing the value of the business through ethical and sustainable business practice. She has managed a number of large-scale ESG programmes, with experience in carbon, property, waste, packaging, recycling and communities.

Thomas said of her appointment:  “It’s an exciting time to be joining Dixons Carphone, which is balancing the need to meet unprecedented demand for vital technology, with doing right by the planet and communities.

“I’m looking forward to helping the business continue to put purpose at the heart of everything it does, galvanising its expertise, scale and reach to help everyone benefit from amazing technology.”

Group director of strategy and corporate affairs Assad Malic added: “The global pandemic continues to highlight the crucial role amazing technology plays in people’s lives, and we’re helping more people than ever benefit from it.

“Our approach ensures we do this in a way that is sustainable – from how we interact with our customers and support our communities, through to how we power our properties and source, transport, repair, recycle, reuse or repackage the products we sell.

”With her experience and expertise, Moira will play a critical role in elevating our ESG strategy across the group. I am delighted to welcome her to the team.”