“I actually am a capitalist, and I believe in shareholders. But I believe in them as a result of what I do, not as a reason for what I'm doing. The same with profits - profits alone cannot be an objective. It has to have a purpose.”

Dutch business executive and author

Paul Polman is a Dutch business executive and author. He is known for his leadership in global business and for writing on business, sustainability, and long-term value. Polman has held senior roles in major international companies, and his public work often focuses on the responsibilities of business beyond short-term profit. As an author and speaker, he is associated with ideas about sustainable growth, corporate purpose, and leadership that looks beyond the immediate quarter.