ESG Investor’s weekly round-up of new hires in the sustainable investing sector, including American Century Investments, Schroders, Baillie Gifford, MSCI and Knight Frank.
American Century Investments has named Sarah Bratton Hughes senior vice president and head of ESG and sustainable investing. Hughes, who joined the firm on January 3, 2022, also leads the ESG and Investment Stewardship team. She will be responsible for driving American Century’s sustainable investing strategy and the management of its ESG research platform and active ownership practices. Before her current role, Hughes was the Global Head of Sustainability Solutions with Schroders, and previously head of sustainability for North America, where she led the strategic development and execution of sustainability initiatives. She was also responsible for ESG integration for all North American-based investment teams, including equities, fixed income and private assets. In 2021, Hughes was named to Crain’s list of Notable Women on Wall Street and won the Markets Media Women in Finance award for Excellence in Sustainability. “As we look ahead, we want to accelerate our sustainable investing efforts and believe Sarah will help take us to that next level,” said Victor Zhang, Chief Investment Officer. “In hiring Sarah, we have added to our team a talented ESG and sustainable investing leader with a distinguished reputation in the industry.”
Tim Goodman has been appointed to the role of Head of Corporate Governance at Schroders, where he will focus on developing engagement and voting on corporate governance matters globally. Goodman brings 29 years of experience across the ESG sectors, as well as the responsible investor and corporate communities sectors more broadly. He will be based at Schroders’ head office in London. Before joining Schroders, he spent 14 years at Federated Hermes, including most recently as Director of Engagement where he focused on the energy, technology, consumer goods and retail sectors. He also previously worked in the insurance industry and held various senior management roles before becoming a company secretary at the UK-listed Domestic & General Group. Goodman is a member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, having obtained the institute’s prize for the best overall performance when he qualified. He is also a former member of the US Council of Institutional Investors’ Corporate Governance Advisory Council and a former chair of the UK Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Committee, where he co-authored several publications. “Tim is a seasoned professional within the sustainability, responsible investing, and corporate stewardship sectors both in the UK and North America,” said Kimberley Lewis, Head of Active Ownership. “We are delighted that he is joining us to drive our active engagement with the companies that we invest in through dialogue, engagement and voting at annual general meetings.”
UK asset manager Baillie Gifford has appointed Ross Mathison as a portfolio manager of its Global Income Growth Fund and Responsible Global Equity Income Fund, joining existing managers James Dow and Toby Ross on the funds from 1 January, 2022 and based at the company’s Edinburgh office. Mathison joined Baillie Gifford in 2019 as an investment manager having previously worked at Aviva Investors and, before that, nine years at Standard Life Investments. “Ross’ appointment recognises the significant contribution he has made since he joined Baillie Gifford two years ago,” said James Budden, Director, Retail Marketing & Distribution, Baillie Gifford. “This new role will see him assume greater responsibilities for decision making and overall portfolio construction. His promotion further strengthens an already experienced and successful team whose total returns to shareholders have proved resilient through volatile times for income investors.”
Index, research and data provider MSCI has announced various senior leadership changes, effective immediately, as part of a renewed client focus. New York-headquartered MSCI said the restructure will ensure that it understands its clients’ needs and demonstrates its leadership in corporate responsibility. In MSCI Solutions, Remy Briand, MSCI’s current Head of ESG & Climate, has been appointed Chief Product Officer. In this newly created role, Briand will be responsible for leading and driving MSCI’s product suite to meet the needs of clients looking for holistic solutions to tackle investment challenges. He will continue to report to Baer Pettit, President and Chief Operating Officer at MSCI. In addition to Chief Product Officer, Briand will also become Head of Index as Diana Tidd, current Head of Index and Chief Responsibility Officer, moves fully to the role of Chief Responsibility Officer. As Head of Index, Briand will be responsible for leading the vision and business strategy for MSCI’s Index product line. Tidd was appointed as the firm’s first Chief Responsibility Officer in 2018 and will continue to guide ESG policies for the firm. Eric Moen will assume the role of Head of ESG and Climate. Moen has been with MSCI for over two decades. Over the last 10 years, he has focused on leading the expansion of client solutions across MSCI’s ESG business.
Real estate firm Knight Frank has appointed Jonathan Hale as a Partner in its ESG Consultancy team. With more than 14 years of experience in the real estate industry, Hale will lead the Knight Frank ESG Consulting offer throughout the property lifecycle. This will include leading on client instructions and advising on the development of new services focused upon ESG strategy and reporting, net zero carbon pathways and asset level decarbonisation, social value, green building certification, climate risk and ESG due diligence, and on transition to a circular economy. Previously ESG & Sustainability Director at BNP Paribas Real Estate, he was responsible for overseeing the centralised service line delivery of ESG related projects focused upon driving sustainability performance across its property management client base and throughout the property lifecycle. “he role of the real estate sector in creating social value is rightly under the microscope. We are delighted to welcome Jonathan to Knight Frank to help drive the growth in our client facing ESG services. An area in which we are expanding rapidly,” said David Goatman, Head of Energy, Sustainability & Natural Resources EMEA at Knight Frank.
