Vidya Sanooj, the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Choppies Group, has recently been nominated for the prestigious ESG Pioneer 2025 Award, marking a significant milestone both in her illustrious career and for the company she represents. This nomination highlights not just an individual’s commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles but also shines a spotlight on Choppies Group’s growing reputation as a leader in sustainable business practices across Africa.
Choppies Group, founded in Botswana in 1986 and now a retail giant in the region, has over the years embedded sustainable practices deeply into its corporate fabric. Vidya Sanooj herself is an embodiment of this ethos. With strong educational credentials including a BCom and LLB from the University of Pretoria, and a rich professional background spanning compliance, investor relations, and corporate governance, she has been instrumental in steering the company’s ESG journey. Her leadership has been described as forward-thinking and action-oriented, embracing the challenge of re-engineering supply chains, reducing environmental impact, and nurturing community empowerment initiatives across the countries where Choppies operates.
Under Sanooj’s stewardship, Choppies has moved beyond the traditional ESG box-ticking exercises common in many corporations. Instead, the company treats ESG as a strategic lever for growth and resilience. This approach is apparent in how they have integrated a ‘shared value strategy’, a method that aligns business success with social progress, into their operations. Vidya herself has emphasized that this strategy is part of the company’s DNA, shaping not only policy but the day-to-day business model, allowing Choppies to deliver real economic, environmental, and social benefits simultaneously.
The nomination for the ESG Pioneer 2025 award brings recognition to leaders who do more than comply with regulations, they innovate and inspire change. These pioneers are individuals who challenge the status quo, embedding sustainable thinking into every facet of their organizations. Vidya Sanooj’s nomination puts her in an elite group of business leaders across Africa and beyond who are driving forward-looking environmental and social solutions. The award ceremony and related voting process, set for late 2025, will spotlight these trailblazers, celebrating their commitment to a sustainable future.
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