Acorn International Names Kristy Bellows Chief Operating Officer Following Year of Record Growth

Bellows’ extensive background in energy and environmental management will fortify firm’s

capacity to help companies pursue sustainable energy solutions and address increasing

requirements to facilitate a just transition

May 31, 2023 – (Houston, TX; Boston, MA) – Acorn International (“AI”), a worldwide social and environmental risk management consultancy with offices in Houston and Boston, is pleased to announce that it has named Kristy Bellows Chief Operating Officer (COO). This appointment comes in response to the firm’s accelerating growth; in 2022, AI exceeded its pandemic revenues by 250%, and growth continues.

With over two decades of industry experience, Bellows will help AI navigate the growing firm by designing new management systems to enhance its ability to provide tailored risk and solutions guidance with enhanced efficiency to clients worldwide. She will also lead business development and execute consulting services with AI’s teams, and oversee day-to-day operations.

“Kristy has come at a critical time in Acorn International’s trajectory, and she couldn’t be a better fit,” founder and President Dean Slocum noted. “Her deep industry expertise and versatility coupled with her passion ‘to preserve the earth’ will bring immeasurable value to our clients’ diversified needs.” He continued, “And like our team, she is committed to a just transition, one that strikes a balance between environmental justice, human rights and the development of critical green energy solutions while ensuring equal distribution of benefits to support underserved communities. We feel very lucky to have her.”

Most recently, Bellows was a Vice President at Worley overseeing multiple units over a span of several years. In those roles, she led client relationship and business development teams in building partnerships that delivered large-scale energy transition solutions. As VP of Operations there, Bellows led profit and loss for upstream and midstream operations, attaining significant revenue growth. Earlier in her career, she founded her own health and safety consulting firm that she ran for eight years.

“I’m so pleased to join this talented team and support their accelerating growth,” Bellows shared. “The energy transition needs the help and collaboration of passionate, knowledgeable experts, and the people at Acorn are exactly that. Their range of skills and know-how are exceptional, the kind that are required to drive this imperative initiative forward.”

Bellows, a graduate of Texas A&M where she received both her Masters of Science in Geological Oceanography and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, recently delivered lectures and participated on panels concerning Energy Transition Trends, Blockchain in ESG, and Scope 3 emissions.

About Acorn International

Acorn International is a professional social and environmental risk management consultancy based in Houston and Boston with engagements worldwide. Designed to be lean and adaptive, Acorn International is comprised primarily of highly seasoned professionals that partner with experts from its established network of vetted in-country specialists in over 90 countries. The approach enables adaptability with the capacity to expand teams and expertise, and address local challenges and nuances with local solutions. Among those that look to AI for risk guidance and solutions are ExxonMobil, Chevron, Hess, Occidental, Shell, Newmont, Freeport McMoRan, Rio Tinto, and RWE Renewables. To learn more, please visit https://acornintllc.com/.

Media Contacts

Heidi Boie

Goodwin Consulting

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Hannah Kunze

Goodwin Consulting

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978-995-1552