Chapter Zero announces new board leadership: Tom Delay CBE appointed Chair, Michael Izza CBE joins the board

Chapter Zero, the philanthropically funded membership organisation, the Directors’ Climate Forum, today announces the appointment of Tom Delay as the future Chair of the board of directors, succeeding Julie Baddeley in July, and the addition of Michael Izza to the board. These appointments will continue to heighten Chapter Zero’s impact as it works with non-executive directors (NEDs) and Chairs to embed climate into business strategy.

Tom Delay CBE appointed as Chair

Tom Delay is a board member of the FTSE 100 Severn Trent Plc where he Chairs the Corporate Sustainability Committee. He is also a member of the advisory board of the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment at Imperial College London and the Global CO2 Initiative at the University of Michigan. In 2001, Tom was the founding Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust, now a global, mission-led, advisory firm, a position that he held until 2024. A chartered engineer, Tom worked for Shell in commercial and operations roles for 16 years in Africa and Europe. In 2018 he was awarded a CBE for services to sustainability in business.

Tom brings a wealth of expertise to the role of Chair, guiding the board in its oversight of Chapter Zero's strategic direction and ensuring its continued impact. He joins the board with effect from 1 May 2025 and takes up his role as Chair in July 2025. Tom’s appointment followed a rigorous search process supported by an independent external search provider.

He said: “I am delighted to take this opportunity to Chair Chapter Zero. Never has net zero been more important, or more challenging. Company directors have a unique role to play as the board is where the interests of consumers, investors and other stakeholders come together – they must chart a strategic approach that works for all. Company strategy, a reserved matter for boards, should reconcile the here and now with the needs of a sustainable future, for both the company and the environment. It must make business sense of climate change. With philanthropic backing, Chapter Zero is trusted and impartial. It supports company directors, its members, by sharing experience, good and bad, and building skills so that they can lead in the boardroom.”

Julie Baddeley who has chaired the board since the launch in 2019, will continue in her role as the Chair of the global network – the Climate Governance Initiative. She said: "We are thrilled to welcome Tom to the Chapter Zero board. His experience and leadership will be invaluable as Chapter Zero’s members decarbonise their organisations, navigate the headwinds, manage their risk, and reposition themselves as resilient and future fit. This is how they will take advantage of the opportunities offered by the transition to net zero and look to the next phase of their growth.”

Michael Izza CBE joins the board

Michael Izza joins the board with effect from 1 May 2025. He was awarded CBE in the Kings' Birthday honours list in June 2024 for services to accounting, audit and sustainability. Michael is currently a strategic advisor to Inflo (an audit software company), Vice Chair of Moorfields Eye Charity and Professor in Practice at Durham Business School. Previously, Michael was the global CEO of ICAEW for over 17 years and held leadership positions in food and beverage and support services businesses. Michael was also on the advisory boards of the Capitals Coalition and A4S.

Michael said: “It is an honour to be appointed to the Chapter Zero board. We have reached a tipping point whereby companies’ impacts have become critical to their future growth. While compliance with standards and regulations is table stakes, what sets companies apart are those that have understood the risks and opportunities associated with the green economy. It is for boards to steer companies through those risks and opportunities and emerge stronger.”

Vicky Moffatt, Chief Executive Officer of Chapter Zero, said: "I am delighted to have the chance to work closely with the esteemed Tom Delay who brings breadth and depth of sustainability experience with businesses, government and civil society boards. We are also fortunate to welcome Michael Izza who will join the Finance Committee, bringing a wealth of financial and commercial acumen, with particular experience of the critical Audit Committee audience. Chapter Zero has built a global brand, and a strongly engaged UK membership with over 75% representation from the FTSE 350 and the largest UK private companies. The next stage is to focus on organisational resilience and growth that delivers for the economies and societies of the future.”

About Chapter Zero

Chapter Zero, the philanthropically funded Directors’ Climate Forum, is one of the founding Chapters of the Climate Governance Initiative – a global network of 33 Chapters in 73 countries. Its purpose is to equip and inspire Chairs and NEDs to lead on climate from the boardroom.

Chapter Zero operates from a UK base with a global impact. As an incubator of best practice, toolkits and thought leadership that are disseminated around the world, Chapter Zero delivers briefings and masterclasses for its vibrant peer-to-peer community. Our programmes bring the latest thinking and practical experiences of board oversight and governance for the climate transition.

With 3,500 members, Chapter Zero is represented on the boards of 77% of FTSE 100 and 71% of FTSE 250 companies, over half of the UK’s large private companies as well as representation from government, arms’ lengths bodies and civil society boards.