When Francesco Di Ciommo talks about sustainability, he doesn’t speak in hypotheticals. As President and CEO of FDC Consulting Digital ESG, he has seen firsthand how integrating ESG principles can transform not only a company’s culture but also its bottom line.
“Sustainability is a word and a very overused term, but in practice, very under-implemented,” he says on CEO: Behind the Scenes.
For Di Ciommo, the challenge has never been defining sustainability but rather turning it into practical, measurable action that benefits both people and profit.
His belief in forward-looking leadership began years before the COVID-19 pandemic, when he made the decision to digitalize his automotive business.
That move allowed his company to continue operating and even growing while competitors stalled. By embracing technology early, he proved that innovation and adaptability could safeguard profitability – a lesson that now shapes his approach to ESG transformation.
At the core of his philosophy is the idea that sustainability is not an expense but an investment.
“All these things that today are seen as a cost are an investment in the short- and long-term,” he says.
Looking to the future
Di Ciommo argues that generational change will make ESG not just preferable but essential.
“Gen Z will only buy a product if they recognize in the product, the offer and the brand the real value of sustainability,” he says.
Indeed, research shows that younger consumers, regardless of culture or geography, make purchase decisions based on how companies demonstrate environmental and social responsibility. And that shift is already affecting suppliers and investors.
“Today, a big investor only backs a company if they know that you are making your products sustainability,” he says.
Di Ciommo’s consulting firm now helps businesses measure and improve ESG performance through practical, incremental change. His company, he explains, evaluates clients across all ESG metrics.
“All these things that today are seen as a cost are an investment in the short- and long-term.”
Beyond consulting, Di Ciommo has invested heavily in education. He has personally funded postgraduate programs across Italian universities to train the next generation of ESG leaders.
More than 200 graduates from these programs have already secured positions as sustainability managers at major companies, creating what he describes as a growing community of professionals equipped to drive real change in business.
For Di Ciommo, the motivation to continue is clear.
“Sustainability is not just to make profit, it’s to be useful,” he affirms.
Listen to the latest episode of our CEO: Behind the Scenes podcast with Francesco Di Ciommo on Amazon, Apple or Spotify.
