Sara Ayachit

As corporations integrate sustainability into their strategic decision-making, the placement of sustainability teams within organizational structures is undergoing a significant transformation. This study explores the strategic placement of sustainability teams within organizations, examining how their positioning reflects both operational effectiveness and responses to external pressures. By integrating organizational theory with sustainability practices, the research investigates the key drivers influencing sustainability team placement, including organizational structure, leadership commitment, and external pressures such as stakeholder demands and regulatory frameworks. The study further explores the strategic priorities of sustainability teams, focusing on how materiality analysis and operational objectives inform their decision-making. Additionally, the research examines how success is measured within these teams, analyzing both traditional financial metrics and nonfinancial performance indicators that reflect broader sustainability goals. Using qualitative methods, specifically semistructured interviews, the study uncovers key findings on how sustainability teams are distributed across various business units, with a notable shift from traditional placement in operations toward integration within legal and finance departments. Ultimately, the findings offer a deeper understanding of the evolving role of sustainability teams within organizational structures and their strategic impact on corporate sustainability practices.