Richard Tarboton has joined the World Resources Institute (WRI) as the inaugural Director of Corporate Transition, based within the Climate, Economics & Finance (CEF) program. In this newly created role, Richard will lead the development of WRI’s long-term strategy to accelerate corporate transition, applying a systems-based approach to overcome barriers and catalyze solutions that embed climate and nature considerations into business strategy and operations.

Richard looks forward to collaborating across WRI—drawing on the institute’s deep expertise in areas such as target setting, corporate climate action, and sustainable finance. He is especially keen to engage with human systems and country teams, and to work alongside key stakeholders across government, business, and the nonprofit sector, to co-create an integrated strategy that enables companies to drive system-wide transformation.

Richard brings more than two decades of leadership in corporate sustainability and net-zero transition. Most recently, he served as Managing Director and Head of Sustainable Strategy and Policy at Barclays, and has held senior roles at Credit Suisse, UBS, and EY. He served on the board of Carbon Intelligence, advising clients on science-based targets and transition planning. Earlier in his career, Richard led global energy and environmental programs at BT (British Telecom), achieving an 80% reduction in its carbon footprint.

Beyond the corporate sphere, Richard has collaborated with NGOs and the UK Government to shape climate strategies across industries including transport, energy, and technology. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), an MBA from Cranfield School of Management, and has completed executive programs at Harvard and Cambridge.

Outside of work, Richard enjoys hiking and outdoor adventures. He is a passionate gardener with a special interest in designing and building natural swimming ponds.