ESG Tops Operational Priorities for Leaders of Big Companies

Executives at large US companies were more likely to rank carrying out environmental, social, and governance initiatives as a top operational priority than combating inflation and shoring up supply chains, a KPMG survey of 100 CEOs found.

ESG initiatives also topped improving customer experiences as a priority over the next year, according to the accounting and consulting giant’s annual 2024 US CEO Outlook Pulse Survey released Thursday.

The results came even as inflation figures remain in flux and politicization of ESG continues to cause some companies to downplay their ESG efforts. CEOs are making sustainability initiatives “a core business ...