Ivanka Mamic is stepping into a pivotal role at Rolls-Royce Holdings, becoming the company’s first Chief Sustainability Officer and head of government relations. With a robust background from her tenure at BP, Mamic is set to drive Rolls-Royce’s ambitious climate goals. Unlike BP’s recent pivot away from low-carbon energy, Rolls-Royce is steadfast in its commitment to sustainability, aiming for net-zero operations by 2050 and a 46% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 2019 levels.
The company is investing in sustainable aviation fuels and ultra-efficient engines, while also exploring modular reactors for future UK nuclear plants. Mamic succeeds Rachel Everard, who led sustainability efforts from 2019 to 2025, at a crucial time when industrial decarbonization and operational transparency are paramount.
Rolls-Royce’s Transition Challenges
As a key player in aerospace engine manufacturing, Rolls-Royce is actively engaging in the energy transition. The company is working to make its engines compatible with cleaner fuels and exploring solutions for military power systems. However, its credibility on the international stage could be questioned as it awaits validation of its goals by the Science-based Targets initiative.
Can Ivanka Mamic truly transform Rolls-Royce’s sustainability vision? Her experience at BP, during a major fossil fuel investment realignment, has equipped her with valuable insights. Yet, the challenge at Rolls-Royce is unique: balancing innovation and sustainability in a fiercely competitive industry. The journey is long, but with determined leadership, the company appears to be on the right track.
Mamic’s Journey: From BP to Rolls-Royce
At BP, Mamic navigated the complexities of a giant in crisis mode, steering the company towards carbon neutrality by 2050. However, following Bernard Looney’s departure in 2023, BP’s sustainability strategy underwent significant changes, leading to the dismissal of key executives. At Rolls-Royce, Mamic has the chance to build on more stable foundations, with clear objectives and a strategy aligned with market needs. The challenge remains significant: convincing skeptics and embedding sustainability into every facet of the company’s operations.
Positive comments on LinkedIn already indicate strong support for her role, notably from Neno Duplan, CEO of Locus Technologies, who views this appointment as strategic. Whether Mamic can leverage this momentum to make Rolls-Royce a sustainability leader in aerospace remains to be seen.
