ESG Investor’s weekly round-up of appointments in the sustainable investing sector, including Carmignac, NBIM, Chronos Sustainability, RBC BlueBay, the IA and EQ Investors.
French asset manager Carmignac has appointed Lloyd McAllister as Head of Sustainable Investment. McAllister leaves Newton Investment Management, where he served as Head of ESG Research, as well as a senior leadership team member. He will replace Sandra Crowl, who leaves Carmignac at the end of January. In his new role, McAllister will head up the asset manager’s sustainable investment division which supports the fund management team with financial analysis, thematic research and company engagement, as well as advising the business on sustainable investing trends and ESG regulation. He will be responsible for executing the firm’s strategic sustainable investment roadmap, including supporting the firm’s ESG regulation group, helping further capitalise on the asset manager’s existing ESG framework, and identifying opportunities for the business to deepen its footprint in the Climate, Empowerment and Leadership areas of ESG. Maxime Carmignac, UK Managing Director at Carmignac, said: “I’m thrilled that Lloyd will be joining the team. His deep experience in both ESG research and analysis will help us capitalise on the many opportunities available, as well as navigate the increasingly complex regulatory environment.”
Norway’s sovereign wealth fund Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), has established a new Climate Advisory Board. Professor Jody Freeman, Jennifer Morris, Huw van Steenis and Bjørn Otto Sverdrup have been appointed as external members to the board. NBIM said the advisory board will support it in implementing its 2025 Climate action plan, as well as the development of the fund’s climate-related financial risks and opportunities management approach. Carine Smith Ihenacho, Chief Governance and Compliance Officer at NBIM, said: “We are very pleased to have these outstanding experts on our new advisory board. We are confident they will help us maintain leadership in managing climate-related risks as an owner of companies through the climate transition.”
Chronos Sustainability, a UK-based specialist advisory firm, has hired Hannah Wakelin as Programme Manager for Health. Wakelin has 14 years of sector experience in evaluating and reporting on corporate performance on ESG issues. She joins from Moody’s ESG Solutions where she was Research Operations Manager. In her new role, Wakelin will lead the firm’s core health programmes and provide technical consultancy, project management and delivery on global benchmarking, best practice, and disclosure initiatives. She will also provide support across the firm’s range of change programmes and client initiatives where her expertise is required. Nicky Amos, Managing Director at Chronos Sustainability, said: “Hannah’s appointment reflects the sustained growth of health-related sustainability objectives for companies, investors and non-governmental organisations as these issues become integral to the corporate sustainability and responsible investment agenda.”
Canadian asset manager RBC BlueBay has hired Younes Hassar and Emir Beganovic as Senior ESG Analysts. Hassar joins the firm from Federated Hermes. In his new role, he will support the asset manager on ESG sovereign and engagement efforts for the BlueBay fixed income investment platform. Beganovic will work with fixed income investment professionals based in the US, leading on implementing ESG integration and engagement. My-Linh Ngo, Head of ESG Investment at BlueBay, said: “ESG continues to be of critical importance in helping future-proof our business and the appointment of Younes and Emir will help us further incorporate ESG into our investment processes. They both bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their prospective roles, and I look forward to working together to enhance the BlueBay fixed income ESG offering at RBC BlueBay.”
Carol Thomas has re-joined UK trade body the Investment Association (IA) as Head of Sustainability and Responsible Investment. Thomas re-joins the firm from M&G, and in her newly created role will be responsible for leading the IA’s work and engagement on all issues related to sustainability and responsible investment. This includes the design and implementation of sustainable finance rules in the UK, and championing the industry’s contribution to climate action. Thomas had previously spent four years at the IA as a retail markets specialist and led the trade body’s work to assist members with the implementation of Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. Galina Dimitrova, Director for Investment and Capital Markets at the IA, said: “Carol’s extensive UK and EU policy experience and industry expertise will enable her to successfully support our members with the busy regulatory agenda and champion the industry’s priorities in this area.”
EQ Investors, a London-based financial planning firm, has promoted Louisiana Salge to Head of Sustainability. In her new role, Salge will be responsible for leading EQ Investors’ sustainable and engagement initiatives. Sophie Kennedy, joint-CEO at EQ Investors, said: “We are excited to welcome Louise to the EQ team; her appointment reflects our ambition to maintain our proven track record of providing excellent client service whilst also meeting growing demand for our services.”
