B Lab Singapore, which runs the B Corp sustainability certification scheme in Singapore, has filled its long-vacant chief executive position.
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Former General Electric (GE) executive Brian Selby brings three decades of experience in senior corporate roles to the job, including running GE’s hydro-electric business across Asia.
Selby moved into the role effective 1 June, ending an 18-month period for B Lab Singapore without a CEO.
Previous CEO Amelie Remond, who had shared a leadership role with founding director Caroline Seow, quit after nine months at the end of 2023, leading to a restructure of the organisation. B Lab has experienced high staff turnover, with two business development executives leaving after short stints over the last 18 months.
Seow told Eco-Business in a statement that, as co-founder and board member, she would “continue to advance and promote B Lab’s values, supporting its leadership and movement and ensuring strong governance and alignment with its global mission.”
B Lab Singapore chairman Sajen Aswani said in a statement that Selby would lead the organisation “into its next phase of growth” and champion the B Corp movement in Singapore and the wider region.
He added that Selby joins B Lab at a “pivotal moment” as businesses worldwide navigate complex global headwinds. “From climate change and inequality to the erosion of public trust, the role of business in addressing these systemic challenges has never been more urgent or vital,” he said.
Brian Selby, B Lab Singapore, CEO. Image: LinkedIn
The growth of the B Corp movement has steady in Singapore over the last year, with four new companies certified since last August.
In 2021, the organisation set a target of certifying 100 companies by 2025. There are currently 57 certified businesses in Singapore, and 66 companies certified in other Southeast Asia markets.
B Lab Southeast Asia is a separate operation led by Thomas Ng, founder of e-learning firm Genashtim.
The B Corp certification is one of the toughest sustainability certifications to attain. Only a third of firms that apply for B Corp status get certified. To stay certified, B Corps are reassessed every three years, and must continually improve their social and environmental credentials. To get certified typically takes longer than a year.
The most recently certified firm in Singapore was Global Green Connect, a sustainability consultancy led by Christina Lee. Lee told Eco-Business that achieving B Corp certification marked a significant milestone in building a business “that balances profit and purpose.”
Other recently certified businesses include online media agency Jolt Digital.
Selby brings experience in a variety of corporate roles to the job of running B Lab Singapore. Prior to taking a sabbatical, Selby was regional general manager, Asia, for GE Renewables, leading Renewable Energy Hydro solutions teams across the region. Over his career, he has also worked for GE’s plastics and chemicals businesses. He began his career as a lawyer.
