Top decision-makers discuss the opportunities and challenges of sustainable corporate management at the respACT CEO Talk.

Under the motto "Sustainable Transformation – Challenges and Opportunities from the Perspective of Large Companies," the respACT CEO Talk 2025 took place at the French Embassy. Decision-makers from business, politics, and academia discussed how companies can strategically shape the transition to greater sustainability and firmly integrate it into their business models.

Matthieu Peyraud, Ambassador of the French Republic to Austria, emphasized in his welcoming remarks: “I am delighted that innovation and ecological transformation are at the heart of Franco-Austrian cooperation. The respACT CEO Talk with, among others, Benoît Bazin, CEO of Saint-Gobain, demonstrates the importance of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals at both national and international levels, while providing concrete impetus for the sustainable transformation of companies.”

Gabriela Maria Straka, board member of respACT and editor-in-chief of Manz NIU, then moderated the high-caliber panel discussion. Leading figures discussed the opportunities and challenges of a sustainable transformation. Severin Gruber, Secretary General at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism, explained: “Austria and all member states must achieve ambitious European climate and energy targets. We face the challenge of linking growth and competitiveness with sustainable development. Companies, too, are striving to reconcile economic strength with social and environmental responsibility. They are focusing on innovative technologies, sustainable and secure supply chains, and a respectful and positive corporate culture. By creating jobs, using renewable energies, and focusing on energy efficiency, companies can achieve long-term competitive advantages. These comprehensive measures also strengthen Austria's economic position and support the achievement of these ambitious goals.”

Sabine Herlitschka, CEO of Infineon Technologies Austria AG and Chairwoman of the Federation of Austrian Industries, emphasized: “For us, decarbonization and digitalization are central core elements of our vision. And this isn't a recent development: For 15 years, Infineon has been one of the world's leading companies in the field of decarbonization.”
Listed as one of the most sustainable companies in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, we actively shape the ‘Triple Transformation’ through our products, processes, and actions. Sustainability and digitalization go hand in hand with the further development of society.

Benoit Bazin, President and CEO of the Saint-Gobain Group, emphasized: “Climate change and the protection of natural resources are fundamentally altering our world, and we must respond decisively. As a global pioneer and world leader in sustainable building, Saint-Gobain knows that real change goes beyond individual projects or green checklists and requires a fundamental rethink across our entire value chain to reconcile economic performance with environmental responsibility. This transformation requires and arises from collaboration: working hand in hand with local partners who understand the specific needs of their markets. Our purpose, Making the world a better home, is not just a slogan, but our compass, guiding our strategy and investments. Because transforming the construction industry is not something we can achieve alone. It requires partnerships that truly make a difference.”

The aim of the discussion was to examine sustainable transformation from different perspectives, to highlight the crucial role of corporate responsibility at the C-level, and to provide concrete action impulses for company management in Austria.

Daniela Knieling, Managing Director of respACT, drew a positive conclusion: “The CEO talk impressively demonstrated that sustainable transformation is not just a future topic, but is already being strategically anchored in large companies today. Open exchange between business, politics and science is crucial in order to jointly develop practical solutions.”

respACT President Peter Giffinger also emphasized the importance of such dialogues: “Sustainable transformation is not a nice-to-have, but a key competitive factor. Companies that future-proof their business models not only create ecological added value, but also secure their long-term economic success.”
The event was held in cooperation with the French Embassy and Saint-Gobain and was supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism and the Federation of Austrian Industries.

Among the interested audience were Ralf Mittermayr (Saubermacher), Christine Würfel (RBI International), Oliver Jonke (medianet), Ankerbrot CEO Birgit Aichinger, and many more.