Jose Retana Cruz | Sustainability Director
Desinations Development Company

José Retana is a sustainability executive with over 25 years of international experience advising governments, global organizations, and major infrastructure developments on how to deliver net-zero and decarbonization at scale. He is recognized for translating ambitious sustainability goals into practical, large-scale programmes that deliver measurable environmental and social impact. He currently serves as Sustainability Governance Director for a PIF-backed hospitality development in Saudi Arabia, where he leads the integration of sustainability across design, construction, and operations— including decarbonization strategy and ESG governance. Previously, José Pablo was Sustainability Director for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, where he led one of the most comprehensive sustainability programmes ever delivered for a global event, including its decarbonization initiatives, waste diversion targets and the implementation of the first ISO 20121-certified sustainability management system for a FIFA World Cup. Over his career—including senior roles at PwC and leading advisory work across the Middle East—he has supported more than 40 organizations in developing and implementing ESG strategies, sustainability reporting, and impact measurement frameworks aligned with leading global standards.  He also contributed to the next generation of sustainability leaders as a facilitator at MIT’s Chief Sustainability Officer programme and as a lecturer in ESG and sustainability reporting at EAE Business School.