Green Electronics Council (GEC), the nonprofit that manages the EPEAT green-rating system for electronics, has named Nancy Gillis as its Chief Executive Officer.
Gillis, a former senior executive with Ernst & Young (EY) and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), will begin her tenure at GEC on March 1, 2016.
“As GEC nears its 10th anniversary, we’re thrilled to have Nancy lead the organization as we seek to grow our global impact,” said Alan Keith, chair of the GEC Board of Directors. “Her familiarity with our flagship EPEAT program, experience with both public- and private-sector procurement organizations and her proven ability to lead stakeholder-driven organizations makes her a fantastic match.”
Gillis brings more than 20 years of senior leadership and sustainability experience. She joins GEC from EY, the third-largest professional services firm in the world. Gillis served as EY’s Global Lead for Resilient and Responsible Supply Chains. In this role, she worked with global Fortune 100 companies on sustainable sourcing, supplier risk identification and mitigation, and leveraging sustainability to increase competitiveness and foster supplier innovation.
Prior to EY, Gillis was appointed the Director of the Federal Supply Chain office at GSA. Her responsibilities included developing product environmental performance requirements and supplier evaluation criteria for use in federal procurements. She also served as the chair of a cross-governmental working group focused on expanding the use of sustainability standards and certifications in procurements and in helping federal agencies account for the GHG emissions attributable to the federal supplier base. Gillis has held senior positions in organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, SNV and the National Academies of Sciences and has led sustainability programs in Africa, Asia and Central and South America.
“I am excited to bring to GEC my experience and passion in fostering collaboration among diverse interests to further sustainability,” Gillis said. “The global success of EPEAT has been built on cooperation among electronics purchasers, manufacturers and other stakeholder groups. I look forward to expanding GEC’s partnerships and increasing the impact of electronics in building a more healthy and sustainable world.”
Gillis obtained her graduate degree in communications technology from Georgetown University and undergraduate degree in government and politics from George Mason University. She currently resides in Virginia and will be moving to Portland, Oregon. Gillis succeeds Robert Frisbee, GEC’s first CEO, who retired in 2015.
The Green Electronics Council is a non-profit that works with stakeholders around the world to develop a shared vision for more sustainable electronics and the practical tools to realize it. Founded to inspire and catalyze environmental leadership throughout the lifecycle of electronic technologies, GEC supports the production of consensus-based environmental leadership standards; operates EPEAT, the definitive global rating system for greener electronics; and convenes global thought leaders in environmental design, strategy and marketing to envision more sustainable electronics design and delivery methods. These activities work to promote a world in which green electronics is a cornerstone of a healthy and vibrant world.
