Bruce Klafter is a respected leader in sustainability and environmental, health and safety (EH&S) circles. In 2013 he joined Flex, a socially-responsible, global leader in the design and manufacture of intelligent products, to provide strategic direction to the Company’s social and environmental responsibility initiatives. The global team lead by Bruce is responsible for sustainability strategy, standards and assessment, including Flex’s operations, product-level environmental compliance and human rights. His role includes regular consultation with senior management, the Company’s Board of Directors and major customers on sustainability and EH&S matters. A highly effective communicator, Bruce serves as a spokesperson for Flex’s sustainability programs and plays a key role in numerous industry and professional development efforts. Flex was a founding member of the Electronics Industry Citizen Coalition (EICC and now “Responsible Business Alliance”) and Bruce recently served as an EICC Board member and as Vice-Chair for the organization.
Previously, Bruce leveraged his unusual blend of business, environmental and legal expertise to help integrate sustainability strategy into Applied Materials’ worldwide operations. Among other efforts, Bruce created a safety culture initiative that helped reduce injury rates continuously over a seven-year timeframe. He developed Applied’s high-level sustainability policy and guiding principles, published the company’s first non-financial external reports, initiated an award-winning product energy efficiency strategy and led the formation of a social and environmental supply chain program.
Prior to joining Applied Materials, Bruce had a distinguished legal career in public and private practice, specializing in environmental and natural resources law. Bruce began his legal career as a California Deputy Attorney General, representing various state agencies, including the Water Resources Control Board, the Air Resources Board, Parks and Recreation, Fish and Wildlife and others. Bruce also practiced law for a number of years with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, a top 100 U.S. law firm. Among his specialties, Bruce was a recognized expert in transactional due diligence.
Bruce has been active with numerous organizations in leadership roles, e.g. Sustainable Silicon Valley (Advisor); Silicon Valley Leadership Group (Executive Advisor); Acterra (Board Member); Association of Climate Change Officers (Advisor); State Bar Environmental Law Section (former Chair and Advisor); Presidio Graduate School (Expert in Residence).
Bruce received a B.S. from Tufts University and his law degree from the University of California-Davis. Bruce has also been certified in Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (Level I) by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board and as a Sustainability Associate by the International Society of Sustainability Professionals.