ESG Investor’s weekly round-up of moves and appointments in the sustainable investing sector, including AXA IM Alts, PwC, Impax Asset Management, Barclays, Osborne Clarke, and WBCSD.
AXA IM Alts, a global investment management firm with over €190 billion in AUM, is building out its team to support its New Capital Strategy. Adam Gibbon, Edoardo Cavallo and Camila Alva Estabridis have joined to lead the deployment of the new €500 million strategy, which forms part of AXA Group’s €1.5 billion commitment to protect and sustainably manage forest ecosystems. Gibbon has over 17 years of experience investing in nature-based climate solutions, and has designed and implemented investment solutions to address climate change and biodiversity loss. Cavallo is a specialist in emerging markets with expertise working with investors and entrepreneurs to provide nature-based solutions to climate change. Alva Estabridis, a development and environmental economist, has more than a decade of experience in public policy, working with governments and development institutions, including the World Bank and the International Food Policy Research Institute. AXA IM Alts said its expanded team “combines extensive personal networks and established experience across natural capital markets, with existing relationships and technical knowledge to allow AXA IM Alts to efficiently assess the pipeline of investment opportunities”.
Big Four accountancy firm PwC has appointed Will Jackson-Moore as its new Global ESG Leader, responsible for overseeing the rollout of the firm’s US$12 billion investment strategy. Jackson-Moore was most recently as PwC’s Global Private Equity and Sovereign Investment Funds leader and has experience working with private equity firms as they factor climate into their portfolio strategies. Jackson-Moore said: “ESG is the defining business issue. The focus has to be on net zero transformation of businesses and their supply chains, mobilising sustainable capital, enhancing resilience against climate risks and delivering robust reporting on progress.”
Charlie Donovan has joined London-based Impax Investment Management as Senior Economic Advisor. He will contribute to Impax’s thought leadership initiatives on the global energy transition and provide insights on North American policy developments to Impax’s clients and investment teams. Donovan was previously Professor of Practice at Imperial College London and Founding Executive Director of its business school’s Centre for Climate Finance and Investment. He currently serves as Academic Co-Chair of the Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment, an investor body representing US$20 trillion in AUM. Ian Simm, Impax’s CEO and Founder, said: “Following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, the US is on the cusp of another leap forward in the adoption of clean energy.” Impax Environmental Markets has also appointed Glen Suarez as Non-Executive Director. He is currently Executive Chairman of the board of Knight Vinke Asset Management, where he previously held the role of chairman of the Audit Committee, and is a Senior Adviser to FMAP Limited.
Daniel Hanna is UK-based Barclays Corporate and Investment Bank’s new Global Head of Sustainable Finance. In his new role, Hanna will be responsible for creating a “market-leading centre of excellence” for sustainable finance. He joins from Standard Chartered, where he was most recently Global Head of Sustainable Finance. Sasha Wiggins, Barclays’ Group Head of Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility, said: “Whilst we are already using our expertise across our Corporate and Investment Bank to help clients manage this period of extraordinary change, Daniel’s appointment gives us a powerful focus to create a real point of difference with clients.”
Matt Lewy has joined international law firm Osborne Clarke’s energy and utilities team. Lewy has over a decade of experience in renewable energy and infrastructure mergers and acquisitions, from the UK mid-market to international premium transactions. He was most recently a Partner in Womble Bond Dickinson’s energy and infrastructure team, and has also previously held roles at CMS and Baker Botts. Matt Lewis, Osborne Clarke’s UK Energy and Utilities Sector Leader, said: “Lewy brings excellent experience in the decarbonisation space along with expertise across renewable energy generation, energy investment funds and utilities work. We’re aiming to significantly grow our practice over the next decade and his arrival is a key part of our plan.”
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has appointed Pepijn Rijvers as Executive Vice President. He will lead the organisation’s efforts to engage the capital markets with the sustainability agenda. Peter Bakker, WBCSD’s President & CEO, said: “He brings a unique mindset on valuation, capable of entirely redesigning and redefining value. Rijvers will significantly advance what we offer our member companies and ensure we can accomplish a lower cost of capital for more sustainable companies.”
