TowerXchange speaks to Gabriel Musso, Chief Legal Officer, Andean Telecom Partners about the company’s approach to ESG.
Could you please summarize your company’s main objectives on the environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues?
Gabriel Musso, Chief Legal Officer, Andean Telecom Partners (ATP): ATP’s ESG approach is to build a sustainable future for our company and its stakeholders, by creating economic value, preserving resources, empowering our employees, and supporting the local communities in which ATP operates
What are some of the initiatives that you are currently undertaking in Central and South America?
Gabriel Musso, Chief Legal Officer, Andean Telecom Partners (ATP): We are always looking to support social matters, more recently those regarding internet connectivity for underserved populations. Through dedicated fibre optic links, ATP has recently donated to 10 public schools associated with international non-profit “Fe y Alegría del Perú” robust internet connections for more than 12,000 students, enabling them to reach their potential and take on new challenges.
What is your company’s approach to setting and implementing environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals?
Gabriel Musso, Chief Legal Officer, Andean Telecom Partners (ATP): Having clear ESG metrics and KPIs allows ATP to keep progressing in its inclusive and responsible management of the business as a whole. Among our goals is keeping supporting a diverse, inclusive workforce. We are constantly improving practices to support diversity and inclusion in throughout our core HR programmes, including recruitment, competency & career development, compensation analysis, and leadership / advancement. ATP has also always had a very strong approach regarding compliance with international FCPA, Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption norms and legal standards. We look to keep emphasising to all ATP stakeholders the company’s commitment to operating in full compliance with anti-corruption matters. We also maintain Workplace Health & Safety goals, which we are happy to have constantly reached.
How closely are they aligned to the broader business objectives?
Gabriel Musso, Chief Legal Officer, Andean Telecom Partners (ATP): At ATP, ESG considerations form an integral part of our business, which we consider to be critical elements of our overall business objectives and targets. We have a legacy of working on the basis of a common set of shared values, where our corporate culture has always focused on safety, quality, sustainability, service, and inclusiveness.
How do you go about choosing meaningful KPIs, measuring progress, and communicating your ESG results to broader stakeholders?
Gabriel Musso, Chief Legal Officer, Andean Telecom Partners (ATP): We have committed to setting annual goals for certain core ESG considerations, and to reporting to our board through a set of measurable KPIs. Our ESG framework allows us to measure and follow up on KPIs that include Diversity & Inclusion, Workplace Health & Safety, Data Privacy & Security and FCPA & Anti-bribery.
How developed is the understanding of ESG among the people who work for your organisation across all levels of seniority, from top management to local contractors?
Gabriel Musso, Chief Legal Officer, Andean Telecom Partners (ATP): ESG is a new topic to all stakeholders, particularly in the region where ATP operates. Nevertheless, these items have been part of the core values of ATP for many years, and all team members have received training, especially in FCPA & Anti-bribery.
What could be improved to position ESG at the core of the business?
Gabriel Musso, Chief Legal Officer, Andean Telecom Partners (ATP): We are working to add specific ESG training to all employees (tailored toward ATP’s ESG policies, KPIs and business objectives), beginning in 2022.
Have you seen an increase in focus on sustainable business practises from the MNOs you work with, especially in Latin America?
Gabriel Musso, Chief Legal Officer, Andean Telecom Partners (ATP): Certainly, the trend has landed in South America, and we are seeing the MNO’s including ESG matters (or refocusing the ones they already had) as part of their new business contractual requirements.
How does this translate to which partners and suppliers you choose to work with?
Gabriel Musso, Chief Legal Officer, Andean Telecom Partners (ATP): It is gratifying to see the telecom community in South America beginning to consider ESG as a core matter on any relationship, and certainly it creates a clearer path and set of foundations from which to grow business relationships.
Andean Telecom Partners will be speaking at the annual TowerXchange Meetup Americas, taking place on 13-14 July 2022 in Palm Beach, Florida, US. For more information, please visit https://meetup.towerxchange.com/americas
