In this episode of Sustainability Talks, our Senior Partner Remy de Tonnac is joined by Patrick Odier — Chairman of Building Bridges, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Lombard Odier Group and President of Swiss Sustainable Finance (SSF) — for a powerful discussion on the urgent need to embed sustainability at the heart of global finance.
Patrick brings decades of leadership in the financial world and has emerged as a champion of sustainable investment. In this wide-ranging conversation, he reflects on his personal journey—from a traditional finance background to spearheading pioneering initiatives like Building Bridges, which connects public and private capital around sustainable development.
Together, Remy and Patrick explore:
Why global finance must become sustainable finance—or risk obsolescence
How qualitative analysis has reshaped investment strategies over the past 30 years
The role of metrics like “temperature contribution” in assessing corporate climate risk
The importance of carbon pricing and accounting for environmental externalities
The challenges—and opportunities—posed by political headwinds and regulatory fatigue
How technology and innovation are essential to accelerating the sustainability transition
Why optimism is a crucial tool in driving long-term systemic change
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of finance, sustainability, and innovation, and how collaborative leadership can unlock transformational change at scale.
Chapters
00:00 The Current State of Sustainability Discussions
09:47 Patrick Odier's Journey into Sustainable Finance
20:03 Metrics for Sustainable Investment
30:00 The Role of Public and Private Capital
32:46 Technology and Optimism in Sustainability
About Patrick Odier
Patrick Odier is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Lombard Odier Group. He acted as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bank Lombard Odier & Co Ltd. from 2014 -2022. Previously, he was Senior Managing Partner of the Lombard Odier Group from 2008 until 2022.
He joined the Lombard Odier Group in 1982 and completed his training in Zurich, New York, and Montreal before becoming a Managing Partner in 1986. He holds an economics degree from the University of Geneva and an MBA in finance from the University of Chicago.
Patrick Odier is president of Swiss Sustainable Finance (SSF). He is also Chairman of Building Bridges. He was Chairman of the Swiss Bankers Association from 2009 to 2016 and was a member of the Board of economiesuisse (Swiss Business Federation) from 2004 to 2022. He also serves on the boards of several academic and philanthropic organisations.
Find out more about Lombard Odier Group HERE
Find out more about Swiss Sustainable Finance HERE
Find out more about Building Bridges HERE