Barry O'dwyer

Group Chief Executive Officer, The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Royal London

Search every verified Barry O'dwyer interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Speaking at an Adam Smith at the COP event in November 2021, Barry O'Dwyer discussed stewardship in the climate era. O'Dwyer argued that "simply divesting from climate destructive assets is insufficient," stating that changing ownership of a company does not change its activities or reduce real-world emissions. He noted that a "serious mainstream debate has begun on the social purpose of the corporation," with organizations such as the Business Roundtable and World Economic Forum challenging the profit maximization motive of multinational corporations. O'Dwyer described the rise of private pension provision as creating a "new investor generation" who rely on providers to make decisions on their behalf. He called for moving beyond the concept of "rational economic man" to prioritize the well-being of society over purely private profits. O'Dwyer also suggested there is an opportunity for a "renaissance of the mutual model" of corporate organizations, alongside B corporations and cooperatives, as a model that recognizes interdependence and reliance on each other.