Carbon Markets Veteran Ryan King Joins Climate Impact Partners as Chief Growth Officer
This analysis was originally informed by reporting from ESG Dive. For continuous coverage on sustainability finance, subscribe to their daily newsletter.
In a strategic move to accelerate its growth, carbon market solutions provider Climate Impact Partners (CIP) has named Ryan King as its first Chief Growth Officer. The appointment, announced Monday, taps a seasoned executive known for brokering major corporate carbon credit deals, most recently at carbon removal specialist Undo Carbon.
King will spearhead CIP's overall go-to-market strategy, with a portfolio encompassing brand development, demand generation, and the design of new carbon finance solutions. His hiring underscores the intensifying competition for top talent as companies position themselves in a carbon market facing both scrutiny and record demand.
"Climate Impact Partners is at the forefront of shaping credible carbon markets," King stated in the release. "I look forward to leading this team to help clients translate ambitious climate targets into actionable strategies, ensuring carbon finance flows to high-impact projects worldwide."
King's track record was a key draw. At Undo Carbon, he was instrumental in securing multi-year carbon removal agreements with technology giant Microsoft, culminating in a deal for 28,900 metric tons of CO2 removal—the company's largest to date. He also led Undo's pioneering carbon removal deal with Barclays, the bank's first such agreement, and one with McLaren Racing.
Prior to his role in the carbon removal space, King spent over seven years at S&P Global Ratings in innovation and commercial strategy roles and was a co-founder of the UK arm of meal-kit company HelloFresh.
"Ryan's appointment is a clear signal of our growth ambitions," said Sheri Hickok, CEO of Climate Impact Partners. "His deep commercial experience and proven ability to scale climate-tech businesses will be vital as we expand our global market presence and deliver tangible results for our partners."
Industry Reaction & Analysis:
The move is seen as CIP strengthening its commercial firepower to capture a larger share of the corporate decarbonization market. King's cross-sector experience—from ratings agency to direct-to-consumer scaling to carbon removal—provides a unique blend of financial rigor and growth-hacking mentality.
Reader Comments:
David Chen, Sustainability Analyst at GreenTree Advisors: "This is a savvy hire. King's relationships with major corporates like Microsoft are invaluable. It shows CIP is moving beyond project development into being a full-service commercial partner for net-zero strategies."
Maya Rodriguez, Founder of Climate Integrity Watch: "Yet another game of musical chairs in the carbon consultancy world. Does hiring a 'growth' officer from a removal tech firm mean CIP will prioritize expensive tech-based credits over proven, community-led avoidance projects? The focus seems to be on scaling sales, not necessarily scaling impact."
Arjun Patel, Portfolio Manager: "Talent migration from pure-play carbon removal firms to broader market platforms like CIP is a trend to watch. It indicates the market is maturing, integrating removal into broader portfolios. King's challenge will be to maintain the integrity he championed at Undo within a larger, more diversified organization."
Sarah Lin: "Finally! More heavy-hitters entering the space. We need commercial brains to make climate action mainstream and efficient. This is a win for scaling solutions."