RSPO Board of Governors Endorses Proposal to Form Executive Committee for Operational Oversight

RSPO BoG reached a consensus to propose amendments to the RSPO Statutes aimed at strengthening governance by introducing a new Executive Committee (ExCo).

Following the RSPO Board of Governors (BoG) meeting on 9 September 2025, consensus was reached on proposed amendments to the RSPO Statutes to introduce a new Executive Committee (ExCo) to RSPO’s current governance structure. This milestone reflects RSPO’s continued growth in both scale and operational complexity.

Previously, the BoG had fulfilled a dual role: setting RSPO’s strategic direction through a multi-stakeholder consensus approach, and overseeing the operational performance of the RSPO Secretariat. Under the proposed resolutions, the establishment of the ExCo will assume operational management oversight, to be carried out by specialised experts in key areas of RSPO’s work, including finance, human resources, technology and digital transformation. 

Reporting to the BoG, the ExCo’s provenance will include budget approvals, risk monitoring, and performance oversight of the Secretariat. The proposed committee will be composed of an independent chair and a majority of independent members selected for their tailored expertise. This addition enhances governance capacity while maintaining the BoG’s focus on high-level strategy and long-term priorities, establishing a clear separation of roles. The BoG will approve policy amendments and developments, establish and appoint committees, as well as approve new projects or initiatives proposed by the Standing Committees. Additionally, the BoG will endorse the annual budget prior to each fiscal year, as approved by the ExCO.   

Two Resolutions on the Table

Two new General Assembly (GA) resolutions are tabled for voting by the RSPO membership to formalise the proposed amendments during the 22nd GA in Kuala Lumpur on 5 November 2025: 

1. GA Resolution: GA22-2(b): Resolution to amend the RSPO statutes for the establishment of an executive committee under the revised governance framework 
2. GA Resolution: GA22-2(c): Resolution to amend the RSPO statutes for administrative corrections and drafting consistency 

The creation of the ExCo would mark an important step in the global partnership’s evolution towards a future-focused governance model, aligned with global best practices. By differentiating strategic and operational functions, RSPO will strengthen responsiveness, accountability, and agility – while preserving its core principle of consensus-based decision-making. 

This new governance framework ensures that RSPO remains effective, transparent, and resilient in carrying out its mission to make palm oil sustainable, amidst an increasingly demanding and evolving global sustainability landscape.