Dr Jennifer Cords, Director of Corporate Affairs, Business Compliance and Corporate Responsibility.

Gebr. Heinemann is taking important strides to amplify its global business profile.

Last year, the Hamburg-based travel retailer appointed experienced public and corporate affairs executive Dr. Jennifer Cords to lead a newly created business unit.

Cords spoke to TRBusiness recently about her remit, how the company is anticipating and responding to trading risks, and interpreting economic, political and legal operating conditions in a volatile climate [see below video].

Discussion also centred on Gebr. Heinemann’s approach to sustainability and mitigating environmental impacts, including its drive to reduce single-use plastics.

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

Corporate affairs at Gebr. Heinemann encompasses corporate communications, compliance and corporate responsibility.   

Summing up how the family-owned company frames its approach to business, Cords clarified: “At Gebr. Heinemann we always ask ourselves, ‘what can we do differently?’ One example is, we use the term ‘Corporate Responsibility’ (CR) without specifically mentioning the social (CSR) part.

“This suits us best because it describes a holistic corporate philosophy in which transparency, ethical and environmentally friendly conduct as well as an open dialogue with stakeholders form the basis. Under the umbrella ‘Corporate Responsibility’ we gather the topics ‘Corporate Governance’ as well as our sustainability activities in the commercial, social and environmental area.

“We want to stress out that our sustainability approach is not limited or focused on social activities which are often associated with charity/corporate citizenship.”

For more on Gebr. Heinemann, see the 21st Top 10 International DF&TR Operators report. Click here to subscribe.