Business Leaders’ Declaration Against the Death Penalty
More than 350 business leaders from around the world have united in a shared commitment to end the death penalty. Join them in standing for systems of justice that are fair, safe, and humane toward all.
Our Declaration
We stand united in our belief in a fairer and more equitable world, the rule of law, and universal human rights. As an irreversible and extreme form of punishment, the death penalty is inhumane, and it is irreconcilable with human dignity. Its worldwide abolition is a moral imperative that all of humanity should support.
We can no longer stay silent on issues of inequality, and no issue is more intricately tied to the racial and socio-economic biases that permeate justice systems than the death penalty. In many countries, ethnic minorities and the poor are still more likely to be prosecuted, sentenced to death, and ultimately executed. The abolition of capital punishment is a critical step in the movement toward racial and social equality.
We are committed to making our communities safer. The death penalty does not make communities safer and it does not address the root causes of crime. Nor does it serve as a deterrent. Statistics show that US states with the death penalty have higher murder rates than those without. This is consistent with international findings showing that countries that have abolished capital punishment experienced a decline in murder rates over time. We can no longer afford to jeopardize the safety of our communities by perpetuating a culture of violence and revenge.
We recognize the danger of executing innocent people. In the US for every eight people executed, one innocent person has been exonerated. By all accounts, the true number of innocent people who continue to languish on death row - or who have been executed - is much higher. Any system with an error rate this high Is broken beyond repair.
We believe, now more than ever, that we must be responsible with public finances. The death penalty is a wasteful and ineffective misallocation of public resources. To maintain the broken system of capital punishment, some governments divert millions of dollars every year from critical public health and safety initiatives, from infrastructure development, and from education - missing crucial opportunities to build social stability and strengthen communities.
But there is progress. More than 170 UN Member States have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. Half of all US states have abolished the death penalty or stopped executions. The tide is turning, and now it is the responsibility of business leaders to speak up and stand together on the right side of history. It is time to end this cruelty once and for all.
Where the death penalty still exists, we urge government leaders to legally commute death sentences, to impose moratoria on executions and to support legislative or ballot initiatives to end capital punishment for good.
We commit to using our voices and our reach as business leaders to support ending the death penalty everywhere, beginning with signing this declaration.
Our Signatories
The following business leaders have signed in their personal capacity. Biographical information is for identification purposes only.
RICHARD BRANSON
Founder, Virgin Group
AGNES LEVINE
Founder & President, Levine-Oliver Publisher, Inc.
ABHISHEK AGARWAL
Founder & CEO, Lra Unified Group
ADAM YOUNG
Founder, Paper Sky Films
ADEEL SAEED
CEO, Adeel Saeed
ALAN JOPE
Former CEO, Unilever
Board of Directors, Accenture
ALESSANDRO BOGLIOLO
Former CEO, Tiffany & Co.
ALEX LOVE
Founder & CEO, Alex Love Consulting, LLC
ALI NIAZ
Co-Founder, BPureSounds
ALICE DYSON
COO, One Media iP PLC
ALLAN W. MOSKOWITZ
CEO, Transformative Wealth Management, LLC
ALMAZ MARREAU
Founder, Paris LKB
ALPA PATEL
Founder & CEO, 9th House
AMANDA PACQUETTE
Director, Business2Technology
AMIT AMIN
Partner, Amit & Naroop
ANA ECHAVARRIA
CEO & Co-Founder, Nativa Corp; Co-Founder, Cueros Velez SAS
ANDERS HOLCH POVLSEN
CEO, BESTSELLER
ANDRÉ HOFFMAN
ANDRE PEART
Founder & CEO, Untapped Solutions
ANDREW DOUGLASS
Co-Founder & CEO, Innovision
ANDREW N. LIVERIS
Former Chairman & CEO, Dow Chemical; Founder, Liveris Academy for Leadership & Innovation
ANGELIA PRANTHAMAN
President, Sebaran Kasih
ANGELO IUDICI
Co-Founder, NYC Service Connect
ANISHA MOHMED
Director – HR, EMEA & ANZ, Highspot
ANITA RICHARDS
Proprietor & Design Director, Anita Richards Designs
ANNE WOJCICKI
Co-Founder & CEO, 23andMe, Inc.
ARIANNA HUFFINGTON
Founder & CEO, Thrive Global; Co-Founder, The Huffington Post
ASIF RANIWALA
Director, AZR Ltd
ATITI SOSIMI
CEO, Eyato London
BEN COHEN
Co-Founder, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream
BEN GAUMOND
Owner & Founder, Ben Gaumond Law Firm, PLLC
BENOIT REYNDERS
CEO, BMT Aerospace
BERNARD LIM
Chair of the Board, Anders Electronics PLC
BERT JACOBS
CEO, LIFE IS GOOD
BLAKE HENDERSON
Owner, Henderson Development
BLANCA ESTHELA FARFÁN GARZA
Owner, BarBee Tamales
BRAD S. KARP
Chairman, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
BRIAN KOEHN
Founder & CEO, Social Purpose Corrections
BRITTANY DAMICO
Senior Business Development Manager, Change Finance
BRICE TAN
Founder & Director, int Design
BRYANY TOD
CEO, A Little Bit Gel
BRYEN STUBBS
BUSTER PIKE
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Hydro Studios
CALEB JOHNSON
Director, VAS
CARA HASLOP
General Manager, Chandler Macleod Group
CARL FIRTH
Founder & CEO, ASLAN Pharmaceuticals
CARL WILEMAN
Co-Founder & President, Global Protection Gateway
CAROLINE COOKE
Founder, Bright Humor
CASEY J. MULLIGAN
Owner, Mulligan & Mulligan PLLC
CATHERINE KIMMEL
Co-CEO, The Artemis Agency
CHAD M. TOPAZ
Co-Founder & Chief Research Officer, QSIDE
CHARLOTTE GARNES
Founder, ReNforce
CHRIS DAW QC
Lawyer, Broadcaster & Author of Justice on Trial
CHRIS KNUDSON
President, Lightstone Records
CHRIS McGUGAN
CEO, Televerde
CHRISTINA BROOKS
Founder & CEO, Ruebik
CHRISTINE LEVISEUR MENDONCA
Founder & CEO, Shore to Shore Advisory
CHRISTOPHER ANDREW
Co-Founder, 10XL
CHRISTOPHER COX
Associate Director, Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investment
CHRIS DUTTON
Founder, The CEO Magazine
CLAUDIA DOUGLASS
Co-Founder, Innovision & Parallel Lifestyle
CRAIG BULOW
CEO, Corporate Away Days
CURTIS VALENTINE
Founder, Mode PT
CY SCHULTZE
Founder & CEO, Food & Wine Culture Consulting
DAN MEYER
President & CEO, Nehemiah Manufacturing
DANIEL DART
CEO, Dart Capital & Co.
DARREN S. WALL
Deputy Chief Defense Counsel, Military Commissions Defense Organization
DARSHITA GILLES
CEO & Founder, Maanch
DAVE KERPEN
Co-Founder, Likeable Media & Apprentice
DAVID BRONNER
CEO, Dr. Bronner’s
DAVID W. CRANE
Undersecretary for Infrastructure, U.S. Department of Energy; Former CEO, Climate Real Impact Solutions; Former CEO & President, NRG
DAVID HASSELL
CEO, 15Five
DAVID PACQUETTE
CEO, Business2Technology
DAVE PHILLIPS
Owner, Phillips Management Inc.
DELIA PEREZ MEYER
Secretary, Texas Moratorium Network
DEREK HARNETT
Switch Automation
DIANA FLAQUÉ
Digital Transformation Director, Tiena Universa
DOBRIN DOBREV
Founder, TechVector Ltd
DOMINIC STREETER
Founder, Hide & Seek Media
DOMINIQUE KNIPPING
Founder, WIFI Design
DONALD M. CRAWFORD III
Founder and CEO, Juhász Design Group
DORRIT LOWSEN
President & COO, Change Finance
DR. JUDE HIGDON
COO & Co-Founder, QSIDE Institute
DR. MARGIE WARRELL
CEO, Global Courage
DR. MO IBRAHIM
Founder, Mobile Systems International; Founder, Celtel; Founding Chairman, Satya Capital Limited; Founder & Chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
DR. PHILIP TEE
Founder & CEO, Moogsoft Inc.
DR. TOPEKA K. SAM
Co-Founder & Chief Visionary Officer, FRSH
DUNCAN CHAPPLE
Head of Analyst Relations, CCgroup PR
E SANEI
E SEAL
Executive Producer
ED FLETCHER
Co-Managing Director, Shape History
ELISSA SHUCK
President & CEO, ES-STRATEGIC, LLC
ELIZABETH CHAMBERS
Operating Partner, Searchlight Capital
ELIZABETH MEYER
Founder, EAM Experience Solutions, LLC
ELLIE KANNER
CEO, Forever Sunny Productions; Just To Be Clear Productions; The Game Plan Game LLC
ERIC JENSEN
Owner, Parleaux Beer Lab
ERIKA BLAUDT
Co-Founder, Blaudt Consulting
EVE WILDRICK
Founder & President, Executive Interiors Inc.
FELIX PFREUNDTNER
Owner, Xilev UG
FLOYD ALBEE
CEO, Prevalent Projects
FRANCOIS-HENRI PINAULT
FREDERIKA McCLARY EASLEY
Executive Director, The Cannabis Impact Fund
FRIEDERIKE BRUCKERT
Executive Consultant, former Head of Global Sales at Maxon GmbH
GARETH PARKER
CEO, Raphael Rowe Foundation
GENEVIEVE MARTIN
Founder, Geboma & Co.; Co-Founder, Talent Nova
GEORGE TURNER
Co-Founder & CEO, Carneys Community
GERALDINE M. TALBOT
GILLES LESPERANCE
Founder & CEO, Gildor Services
GINA LYNELL SMITH
Founder, BizDesign.digital
GORI YAHAYA
Founder & CEO, UpSkill Digital
GUIDO ALFREDO A DELGADO
Chairman & CEO, GAAD Inc.; Former CEO, National Power Corporation of the Philippines
GUILHERME LEAL
Co-Founder & Co-Chair Natura & Co; Co-Founder Instituto Ethos
HALIM FLOWERS
Founder, Halim A. Flowers Studios LLC
HARLEY BLAKEMAN
CEO, Honest Jobs
HEATHER WALKER
Founder & President, Development Concepts Inc.
HELENE GAYLE, MD, MPH
President, Spelman College; Former President & CEO, The Chicago Community Trust; Former President & CEO CARE USA
HELIA ZAKERI
HUBERT JOLY
Former Chairman & CEO, Best Buy; Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School
HUGH LENON
Private Equity & Prison Charity Chairman
IQRA SHAIKH
Founder & CEO, Tutoring in Teams
ISABELLE KOCHER
JACK D'AURORA
Partner, The Behal Law Group, LLC
JACKIE HUEBBE
Founder, SugarBot Sweet Shop
JAIR SMITS
Managing Director, Witteveen+Bos
JAMES FELLOWES
Founder, The Bridge of Hope (Inclusive Talent Portal)
JAMES MWENDIA
Founder, Talknet Consultancy
JAN GEU GROOTENHUIS
Co-Founder, Jans Camp & Spekes Camp
JARED SMITH
Co-Founder, Qualtrics
JASON FLOM
CEO, Lava Media
JATIN MAHINDRA
Founder, Jatin Mahindra
JAUME MIQUEL NAUDI
Chairman & CEO, Tendam Global Fashion Retail
JAVIER GARCIA SAZ
CEO & Founder, AnunciaWebs
JAZZ SINGH
Founder, Empower Ability
JEAN OELWANG
President & Founding CEO Virgin Unite; Former Co-CEO Virgin Mobile Australia
JEFFREY SCALES
Managing Principal, JSA Sustainable Wealth Management
JEFFREY WRIGHT
Chairman, Actium Partners LLC
JEROME DIXON
Founder & CEO, 21v.co LLC
JERMOME ELOI
Founder & CEO, FTW
JERRY GREENFIELD
Co-Founder, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream
JOANNA REES
Managing Partner, West Ventures
JOEL PAILAGAO AKUT
Contact Center Startup Consultant & Broker, NIMRR Business Solutions
JOHN ENGLISH
Managing Director, Whitestar Solutions Ltd
JOHN C. HARRINGTON
President & CEO, Harrington Investments, Inc.
JOHN KAY
CEO, Realize Strategies
JOHN O’FARRELL
JOHN REPLOGLE
Founding Partner, One Better Ventures; Former CEO, Seventh Generation Inc.
JOHN ROST
Founder & CEO, Ace Oasis Ltd
JOHN RUSH
Founder & CEO, CleanTurn; 180 Demo; Third Way Café
JOHNNY WEBB
CEO, HiddenLight Productions
JOHNNIE DENHAM
Founder, Slim Haven, LLC
JON WRIGHT
Co-Founder, Innocent Drinks
JONATHAN OUELLETTE
Co-Founder & Creative Director, KILL 2 BIRDS
JOSEPH VAN BLARGAN
Founder, The Van Blargan Group
JOSEPH DELOSS
Founder, Hot Chicken Takeover
JOSH “YASYSZCJOSH” BIEUZ-YASYSZCZUK
Proprietor, YSJ Apparel
JOSH ZINNER
CEO, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
JULIA ALBEE
CFO, Prevalent Projects
JULIAN HALL
CEO, Ultra Education CIC
JULIO SALINAS LOMBARD
Founder & CEO, Salinas Consultores
KATIE DAVIES
US Editor, The Independent
KARYN CAPLAN
Owner & Principal, Karyn Caplan Consulting
KATHERINE CLEMMENS
Founder, Henosis Center
KATHLEEEN YORKE
Owner, Yorke Wellness & Kathleen Yorke Massage, LLC
KATHY MCKENNA
Managing Director, Global Home Warranties Ltd
KELLIE WALENCIAK
Head of Marketing and Communications, Televerde
KENYOTTA B
Owner/Artist, Iris Studio Jewelry
KETZ HARIA
Director, Dey, King & Haria
KIRSTEN HENDERSON
Communications Manager, Henderson Development
KRISTEN INGRAM
CEO, PLUS ONE society
KRISTEN POWERS
Executive Director, Benevolence Farm
KRISTINA TOUZENIS
Managing Partner, BST Impact
KRIZ TAN
Co-Owner & Director, Alphavertex Communications Pte Ltd
KRYSTAL LUCADO
Co-Founder, Themis Holdings, LLC and Shine Holdings, LLC
KYLE CARTER
Professor of Development Disabilities
KYLE FERGUSON
Co-Founder, The Light Movement
L. WILLIAMSON
COO, CAA Family Office
LARA LOVE HARDIN
Founder, True Literary
LAUREN McCANN
Founder & CEO, Calliope Advisors
LAUREN SEGAL
Owner, Laguna Beach T-Shirt Company
LAURENCE J. ROBINEAU
Founder, 5AM Logistics
LEWIS MURIMI
Founder & CEO, COOPS BD Consultancy EA
LIONEL LODGE
Founder & CEO, SyncLodge
LOGAN MARTIN
President, Skyline Strategies, LLC
LOUIS L. REED
Founder, Decoded Story Lab
LOUISE GATENBY
CEO, The Good Board
LUCKY XAZI
Founder, Smart LUX Marketing
M DANIELS
Managing Director & Founder, Jemelec Ltd
MAC BARTINE
CEO, SmartRIA
MAMIE KANFER STEWART
Founder, Meeteor
MANNY JIMINEZ Sr.
Founder, Suspect Entertainment
MANOS COSTA
Manager-Director, Your’s Car Hire Limited
MARC BENIOFF
Chairman & CEO, Salesforce
MARCUS BULLOCK
CEO, Flikshop
MARISA TENDERO
Non-Executive Chairwoman, NOABRANDS
MARK HAMADE
Co-Founder, CanEth
MARK ROGERS
Founder, Frame Destination
MARLEY MUELLER
Owner, MD&M Consulting
MARTHA LANE FOX
Chair, WeTransfer; Director, Chanel; Chancellor, Open University
MARTHA REAL
Founder & Owner, PFS
MARY-CLAIRE MULLIGAN
Partner & Director, Trial Litigation
MATHEW GARLAND
Co-Founder, Seddon Hair Bar
MATTHEW STEPKA
Managing Partner, Machina Ventures
MATS GRANRYD
MEGAN GODDARD
Former CSR Leader, Checkr Inc.
MELISSA FRIESENBOURG
Owner, Balanced Spirit Pilates
MERCK MERCURIADIS
Founder & CEO, Hipgnosis Songs Fund
MICHAEL BRANDENBURG
Managing Director, 2 Quadrate GmbH
MICHAEL CONN
Founder, Bigger Than Us
MICHAEL KARNO
Assistant Vice President & Senior Legal Counsel, AT&T
MICHAEL KRAMER
Managing Partner, Natural Investments
MICHAEL L. RADELET
Professor, University of Colorado-Boulder
MICHELLE CIROCCO
Chief Impact Officer & Executive Director, Televerde & Televerde Foundation
MICHELLE GORGA
Artist Designer, Michelle Gorga Art & Design
MIKE KIRKLAND
Director, Pets UK Direct Ltd
MIKE NOVOGRATZ
Founder & CEO, Galaxy Digital
MILES DALLY
Founder, Panache Group Investments; Former CEO, RCL FOODS
MO CHOUMIL
CEO, Safi Virtual
MS CHANA
Owner, Transcribetype
NADIA BENHIDA
National Coordinator, Entrepreneurs Against the Death Penalty
NATHAN ANTHONY
Founder, Niva American International Education
NEIL ANDREW
Founder & CEO, Lunio
NIC ROSSOUW
Founder & Chief Philosopher, Giraf Design
NICHOLAS SEDGEWICK THOMPSON
Founder & Artist, My Rorschach Art
NICK McKEOWN
NICK MOXHAM
Director, Universal Music Group
NICOLAS DEBRAY
CEO, NOCIBÉ; Former President, Americas, The Body Shop
NICOLAS GIROTTO
NICOLAS PATRICK
Global Head of Responsible Business, DLA Piper
NIJO ALUKAREN
Director, Revenue Assurance
NISANTH DUTU
Founder, DigitalXRun
NOZOMI MORGAN
CEO & Founder, Michiki Morgan Worldwide
OLIVER MASCIAROTTE
Co-Founder, MAAT Inc.
OSCAR WESTRA VAN HOLTHE
Founder, Team Coach Zuidas
PAT LYNCH
Founder & CEO, Women's Radio
PAUL BLAVIN
Co-Founder, Mercy BioAnalytics, Beloved Brands
PAUL CHO
CEO, Cho Security
PAUL GRAHAM
Founder, Y Combinator
PAUL J. FRIBOURG
PAUL POLMAN
Business Leader & Campaigner; CEO, Unilever from 2009-19
PEDRO HERNANDES
Founder, HBFS
PEDRO PARENTE
Chairman & Former CEO, BRF; Founding Partner, EB Capital; Former CEO, Petrobras
PER WIMMER
CEO, WimmerSpace
PIERRE DUBUC
Co-Founder & CEO, OpenClassrooms
PETER G. TRANDERS
Owner, Tranders Consult, IT-Architect Per Aarsleff
PRADEEP GOEL
Founder & CEO, Solve.Care
RAJ THAKKAR
Founder & CEO, Charter School Business Management
RAPHAEL ROWE
Founder, Raphael Rowe Foundation
REKHA MILLICENT LOBO
Partner, Affix Scaffolding
REV. HILLARY TAYLOR
Executive Director, South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
RICCARDO BELLINI
President & CEO, Chloe
RICH AMBLER
Founder/Director, English Outdoors
RICHARD SIKHOSANA
CEO, Gwayiba Management Consultants (Pty) Ltd
RISHI BHATTACHARYA
Founder & CEO, Impact & Influence
RIZVAN RAJA
Founder & CEO, Rizuma Ltd
ROBERT F. SMITH
Founder, Chairman & CEO, Vista Equity Partners
ROBERT KLOEK
Practise Owner, Psychologenpraktijk Bos en Lommer aan de Slotermeerlaan
ROBERT KOOIJ
Founder & Managing Director, Transendex Consulting
ROBERT SHIVELY
Enerdynamics
RON CONWAY
Founder, SV Angel
ROY EVERITT
Flatpack Jersey
RYAN BALL
Director, Ryan Ball Photography
RYAN DOMINQUEZ
Founding Director, Mass CultivatED
SALLY JEWELL
Former CEO, REI
SAMANTHA SWEET
Co-Founder, Sweet Squared Ltd
SANDRO SALSANO
Chairman, Salsano Family Office; President, Salsano Group
SANJAY AGGARWAL
Founder & CEO, IPS
SANJAY BANKA
Executive Chairman, Banka BioLoo
SATISH AGGARWAL
Founder, S&J Leisure Group
SARA PRICE
Founder, Actually
SARAH ADOLPHSON
Co-CEO, The Artemis Agency
SARAH BEST
CEO, Sarah Best Strategy
SARAI JACOB-WHELAN
SCOTT BUDNICK
CEO, One Community; Founder, The Anti-Recidivism Coalition
SCOTT MCNUTT
Managing Partner & CEO, Concord Displays
SEAN ANTONIELLO
Founder, Notable Wine Events and Consulting
SÉRGIO NEVES
Founder, Neves Insurance
SHAILESH PANDEY
Director, W & D Personal Care P. Ltd
SHAKA SENGHOR
President, Shaka Senghor
SHANNON HUDSON
CEO, Hudsons Electrical
SHARON ANDRADE
Founder, HLeadership
SHENALY AMIN
Director, Iconik Ltd
SHERYL SANDBERG
Former COO, Meta; Founder, LeanIn.org
SILVINO ELIA GUARNERI
Co-Founder, Vox Radio International
SINA JANKE
Co-Head, Compliance Group
SITAL PUNJA
Founder, Threads-London
SONIA KOWAL
President, Zevin Asset Management
STEPHEN HARM
Executive Director, Warehouse Alliance Inc.
STEFANIE REINHOLD
Founder, HorseHaus LLC
STEPHANIE MELODIA
CEO, Bloom Consulting Ltd
STEPHEN LUCKMAN
Partner, Sheridans
STEVE BENNETT
Co-Founder, Health Results
STRIVE MASIYIWA
Founder & Executive Chairman, Econet Group
STUART DEBAR
Founder, SRL Publishing
SUSAN OZAWA PEREZ
Senior Portfolio Manager, Impact Investors
SUSAN WHITMORE
Founder & CEO, Grief Haven
SVEIN TORE HOLSETHER
President & CEO, Yara International
SYLVIA COLEMAN
Co-Founder & Principal, BPureSounds
TATIANA BITUNSKA
Co-Founder & CEO, Consulting Company
TARA FOY
Senior CSR Manager, BNP Paribas
TERESA HENNING
Director, Moneymasternow
TIM HARDER
CEO & Founder, Harder IT Consulting
TOM LYTTON-DICKIE
Founder & CEO, Meaningful Business
TOMÁS CENTENO
President APAC, Dyson
TONY FERNANDES
Group Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia Group; Chairman & Founder, Tune Group
TOP MYERS
President, Myers Risk Services
TUMPALE ELEANOR PHIRI
Founder, TLPJ Ltd
UWE MULLER
Consultant, Luxury of Red
VANESSA BAKEWELL
Global Client Partner, Facebook
VANESSA DI PALMA WRIGHT
Founder, Farasha LLC
VICTOR OKONKWO
CEO, Niche Plug
VINCENT YAZZIE
Owner, Keyah Hozhoni Tours
VIRGINIA BELL
Executive Director, St. Helena Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (SHED)
WAYNE DAM
Founder & CFO, Txeya
WENDELL CAPES
Owner, Howard Tax Service
WENDY GONI MENDEZ
Owner & Director, XDesigns Advertising
WERNER BAUMANN
Former CEO + Chairman, Bayer
WOUTER MURRAT
Founder, Owner & CEO, MEPILAN VOF
YINKA SONUBI
CEO, TJR&M
YOUSEF KASSIM
CEO, E-Legal, Inc.