One of my favorite New Year’s reviews is under the title of “Person” of the Year. In the past, I have singled out Chief Compliance Officers, Chief Ethics Officers, Prosecutors, and Whistleblowers.

For 2021, the choice is obvious – the most important trend is the rise of Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) programs. In second place, I would choose Supply Chain Management and Risks, given the importance of supply chain management in the post-pandemic world. 

In the end, ESG dominated the headlines and earned the annual recognition as the issue of the year.