ESG Investor’s weekly round-up of new hires in the sustainable investing sector.
Impact Management Project (IMP) CEO Clara Barby will be taking partial leave in order to be project lead for the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation’s sustainability project. The working group will operate according to the strategic direction of the IFRS Foundation’s Steering Committee of Trustees. Heading the project group, Barby will be exploring ways in which to accelerate convergences in global sustainability reporting standards, while furthering technical preparation for an international sustainability reporting standards board.
Westchester Group Investment Management has appointed Cristina Hastings Newsome as Head of Sustainability, effective from April 12. She will report to Martin Davies, CEO and President of Westchester, an affiliate of US asset manager Nuveen specialising in farmland investments. Hastings Newsome will drive Westchester’s global sustainability efforts, supporting its client in areas such as carbon neutral portfolios and natural solutions to counter climate change through farmland investments. Hastings Newsome will also support the firm’s ESG committee to lead innovation and implementation on a broader range of ESG themes across the farmland portfolio, including providing supportive working conditions and resource efficiency. Hastings Newsome joins from Louis Dreyfus Company in Switzerland, a global merchant and processor of agricultural goods.
Global investment management firm Brown Advisory has appointed three portfolio managers to lead its global sustainable fixed income strategies. Chris Diaz was formerly Co-Head of Global Bonds at Janus Henderson, Ryan Myerberg worked as Head of Absolute Return Fixed Income at Amundi and Colby Stilson joins from his role as Managing Director at the TIFIN Group. “The trio will bring a new global sustainable fixed income strategy to market later this year, combining many of Brown Advisory’s established fundamental and sustainable research methods with their own extensive expertise,” said Logie Fitzwilliams, Head of International Business and Global Head of Sales at Brown Advisory.
Hancock Natural Resource Group, a subsidiary of Manulife Investment Management, has announced that Eric Cooperström has joined the firm as Managing Director of Impact Investing and Natural Climate Solutions. Cooperström reports to Brian Kernohan, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Managing Director of Environment and Policy. In this newly created role, Cooperström will be responsible for enhancing the sustainability and responsible investing capabilities for Manulife Investment Management’s timberland and agriculture teams, working closely with them to develop an investment thesis and value proposition for clients interested in impact-first investments. Prior to joining Manulife Investment Management, Cooperström was a Senior Director at NatureVest, the in-house impact investing team of The Nature Conservancy, a global environmental nonprofit organisation.
Specialist infrastructure investment firm ThomasLloyd has announced plans to appoint a Non-Executive Independent Chair to join its Board of Directors. Founder Michael Sieg will remain Group Chief Executive but hand over the Chairman role. The Non-Executive Independent Chair will provide independent oversight, ensuring the high corporate governance standards. “The global search for a Non-Executive Independent Chair reflects our continued commitment to achieving the highest standards of corporate governance, in light of the significant growth that we have experienced over the past 10 years and in readiness for our future plans,” said Sieg.
