“I believe that the financial crisis of 2008/9 exposed more a lack of ethics and morality - especially by the financial sector - rather than a problem of regulation or criminality. There were, of course, regulatory lessons to be learned, but at heart, there was a collective loss of our moral compass.”

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.