Dr. Daniel Klier Takes Helm at PUR to Scale Nature-Based Solutions

PARIS & LONDON – February 24, 2026 – Nature-based solutions provider PUR has appointed Dr. Daniel Klier, a prominent figure in sustainable finance and former CEO of climate consultancy South Pole, as its new Chief Executive Officer. The move, subject to regulatory approval, is a significant signal of PUR's ambition to scale its operations and solidify its leadership position in a rapidly evolving and heavily scrutinized climate action market.

Founded nearly two decades ago, PUR has established itself as a pioneer in developing climate interventions directly within corporate supply chains. Dr. Klier’s appointment marks a pivotal new chapter for the B Corp certified company, suggesting a strategic acceleration aimed at meeting the soaring demand for credible, high-impact environmental projects.

A Strategic Move in a Scrutinized Market

Dr. Klier's arrival at PUR is particularly timely. The voluntary carbon market (VCM), a primary financing mechanism for nature-based projects, is undergoing a profound transformation. After years of explosive growth marred by questions of project quality and accusations of corporate greenwashing, the industry is now in the midst of a flight to quality. Dr. Klier is a leader uniquely positioned for this new era.

Before his tenure at South Pole, he was the Global Head of Sustainable Finance at HSBC, chaired the Bank of England's Climate Risk working group, and led ESG data platform ESG Book. This extensive background in both high finance and sustainability provides him with a rare perspective on what is required to build robust, scalable, and trustworthy environmental markets. During his time at South Pole, he emphasized the need to significantly advance risk and compliance processes, stressing that trust and transparency were central to operations—a focus that directly addresses the VCM's most pressing challenges.

This push for integrity is being driven by new industry standards, most notably the Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) established by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM). These principles are setting a new global benchmark for high-quality carbon credits, forcing project developers to demonstrate verifiable climate impact and sustainable development co-benefits. Dr. Klier’s experience in navigating complex regulatory and compliance landscapes will be invaluable as PUR scales its operations under these more stringent expectations.

Scaling Solutions Beyond Carbon

While navigating the complexities of carbon markets is crucial, PUR’s core mission, and a key part of its appeal, extends far beyond carbon credits alone. The company has built its reputation on a holistic model that integrates climate action with community empowerment and ecological restoration. This is what the industry refers to as “insetting”—generating environmental benefits within a company’s own value chain.

PUR partners directly with over 93,400 smallholder farmers in more than 20 countries, implementing agroforestry, reforestation, and landscape restoration projects. These initiatives, which have impacted 72,000 hectares and involved planting over 43 million trees, are designed to deliver a suite of co-benefits. For farming communities, they can mean improved soil health, better water resources, crop diversification, and ultimately, more resilient livelihoods. For corporations in sectors like coffee and cocoa, these projects help decarbonize their supply chains while securing long-term productivity.

This integrated approach is precisely what Dr. Klier highlighted upon his appointment. “PUR has built a distinctive position at the intersection of climate, nature, and resilient supply chains,” he stated. “I look forward to working with the team to build on this strong foundation, deepen trusted partnerships, and scale solutions that deliver tangible outcomes for corporates, investors, and local communities.”

This commitment to a broader definition of impact is also reflected in PUR's B Corp certification, which legally requires the company to consider the impact of its decisions on workers, customers, community, and the environment.

The Investor Vision for Natural Capital

The strategic weight behind Dr. Klier's appointment is further underscored by the vision of PUR's primary investor, Bregal Investments. As the private equity arm of COFRA, Bregal has made natural capital a central pillar of its impact investment strategy. In 2022, Bregal took a majority stake in PUR, making it the cornerstone investment for its then-new Bregal Sphere impact platform.

More recently, Bregal launched a dedicated Bregal Sphere Nature strategy, aimed at deploying long-term capital into high-integrity Nature-based Solutions. This strategy explicitly targets projects in agricultural supply chains, reforestation, and mangrove restoration—a perfect reflection of PUR's core activities. This indicates that PUR is not just another portfolio company; it is the primary vehicle for executing Bregal's ambitious natural capital agenda.

Jens Brenninkmeyer, CEO of Bregal Investments, commented on the appointment's significance. “Daniel’s appointment underscores PUR’s ambition to further strengthen its role as a trusted partner in delivering Nature-based Solutions directly within global value chains, while supporting the development of natural capital as an investable asset class,” he said. This backing provides PUR with the long-term, patient capital necessary to develop complex, high-impact projects that may take years to mature.

Charting the Future of Nature-Based Solutions

The global community is increasingly recognizing that there is no path to meeting climate and biodiversity goals without a massive investment in nature. Nature-based Solutions could provide up to 30% of the climate mitigation needed by 2030, yet they remain chronically underfunded. Bridging this gap requires leaders who can speak the language of both ecology and finance.

With Dr. Klier at the helm, PUR is positioning itself to be a key part of that bridge. The challenge will be to maintain the deep, community-centric integrity of its project model while achieving the scale demanded by corporate clients and investors. As Leslie Johnston, PUR Board Member, noted, the board looks to Dr. Klier to “build on PUR’s culture, lifts the teams’ potential, and guides the Company forward with vision and care.”

As corporations worldwide face mounting pressure to meet science-based targets for emissions reductions, particularly in their land-intensive supply chains (FLAG targets), the demand for credible, high-integrity partners is set to explode. The appointment of Dr. Daniel Klier is a clear statement that PUR intends not only to meet that demand but to set the standard for how it is done. His leadership will be pivotal in proving that large-scale climate action can be both profitable and profoundly positive for the planet and its people.