B Lab appoints new board to shape future of the movement
As the global B Corp movement approaches 20 years of impact, B Lab has appointed a new global board to lead its next chapter.
With over 10,000 Certified B Corporations employing over 1 million people across 104 countries using B Lab’s ambitious standards to improve their impact, B Lab is now focused on shaping the future of leadership and business, as it becomes more integrated and introduces the most rigorous standards of business behavior in its history. The new appointments bring together long-standing advocates for the B Corp movement from across the world, with deep expertise in impact, business, and systems change. Together, they will support the organization as it accelerates its work to transform the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet.
The new board, now the primary governing body of B Lab’s mission globally, is chaired by Francine Lemos, a former B Lab Global board member and executive director of Sistema B Brasil.
Alongside Francine, the new board includes:
Alejo Canton — President, Vistage Argentina, and Board Member, Sistema B International
Bart Houlahan — Partner, Irrational Capital, and Co-founder, B Lab
Caroline Kamanja — Co-founder and CEO, Daproim Africa, and former Board Member, B Lab Africa
Elisabeth Laville — Chief Entrepreneur, Utopies, and Founder, B Lab France
Mahlet Getachew — Managing Director, Corporate Program, PolicyLink, and Board Member, B Lab US & Canada
Martin Bunch — Partner, UK B Corp law firm Bates Wells
Roma McCaig — Principal, PRPSFL Group and Board Member, B Lab US & Canada
Tom Cummings — Co-founder/partner GABV.org, and Former Chair, B Lab Europe
This new board will oversee the next phase of B Lab’s evolution as it becomes a more globally integrated organization. The new structure will balance global relevance with local agency, continuing to enable growth, connection, and impact through local teams, with the organization headquartered as a non-profit Stichting in Amsterdam. B Lab regional hubs and affiliated entities are aligning their governance with the new board, in accordance with local laws.
The vision for a more integrated and impactful B Lab was set in 2024 when representatives from B Lab’s regional boards across the world ratified the move towards becoming a more integrated global organization. It aims to give B Lab a stronger position in responding to global challenges and enable the use of its collective resources for the greatest impact. B Lab has since been laying the groundwork for this new governance structure, making the board's appointment a critical milestone.
"It’s a privilege to chair our new board as the movement enters a new phase in its 20-year journey”, said Francine Lemos, Chair of the new board. “To advance our Theory of Change, we’ll focus on B Lab’s integration to strengthen our ability to drive systems change and deepen our mission’s impact at a global scale.”
“I want to recognize former board members from across the Network and Stewards who brought us to this phase. Our boards have been steadfast champions and caretakers of this movement.”
She added: “In this moment, they’ve also acted as courageous thinkers, willing to create the conditions for a new, closer way of working together. They may be stepping back from formal roles, but they remain important sense-makers in our shared work of economic systems change.”
Katie Hill, outgoing co-chair of the B Lab Global board of trustees, reflected on the transition: “At B Lab, we have built a global movement rooted in the shared value of interdependence. The challenges our world faces today make it abundantly clear that this value is critical to transforming the role of business.”
“This is why we are so excited for B Lab’s further evolution towards an integrated organization—one capable of crossing borders to effect lasting change in our economic system. The appointment of this new board, drawn from across our entire network, is the first step toward that future. I am incredibly proud of B Lab’s journey to date, and I am deeply optimistic that this evolution will accelerate our positive impact at a time when the world needs our movement more than ever.”
Among the board’s first actions has been leading the recruitment of a new executive leadership team for the fully integrated B Lab.
As part of that process, Clay Brown has been appointed Chief Standards Officer (CSO). In his current role at B Lab Global, Clay oversees Standards, Certification, and Product Delivery, leading the global network through key advancements in B Lab’s mission, including B Lab’s new Standards and B Impact Assessment.
In addition, Nicola Millson has been appointed Chief Markets Officer (CMO). Based in South Africa and the United Kingdom, Nicola is the founder of multiple platforms focused on leadership and innovation, including She Leads Change, and has served on the board of B Lab Africa since August 2024.
Clay and Nicola will officially move into their posts in early April 2026, with further executive team announcements to be made in due course.