Speaking at the launch of a joint venture with Ashridge Business School, Ray Anderson, president of Atlanta-based floor covering manufacturer Interface, said the challenge for leaders was to inspire, motivate and persuade.
He said there were three types of chief executives: founders, who take a long term view of their business; those who inherit the business, who similarly take a long time view; and those who are hired to run the business, who find it difficult to see beyond a short term.
"We need to concentrate on founders and inheritors. If we can reengineer our businesses in a compelling enough way, then even the most hard headed, sceptical, mean spirited CEO will listen," Anderson said.
Interface's vision is to eliminate any negative effect it may have on the environment by 2020. It has already achieved a 75% reduction in global water usage, 75% reduction in waste to landfill and 27% of its global energy consumption is from renewables. As a result, to date the company has saved more than $372 million in waste costs.
"If business and industry don't come aboard, then boy it is over for mankind," said Anderson.
