ESG Investor’s weekly round-up of new hires in the sustainable investing sector, including Invesco, Gresham House, GIB AM, deVere, Persefoni and UBS.
Global asset manager Invesco has expanded its global ESG team, making eight hires over the past three months, ranging in seniority. The team will be working to integrate ESG factors across Invesco’s investment processes, growing its range of sustainable investment products for clients. “We have a clear plan in place to accelerate our progress and expanding the team is just one important piece of the puzzle,” said Lance DiLorio, Head of Specialised Services for Invesco. All hires will report to Cathrine de Coninck-Lopez, Invesco’s Global Head of ESG. James Sieyes and Sophie Conyngham Greene have joined the firm as junior ESG analysts, while Mark Duffy joins as an ESG Analyst. Mayde Sykora joins Invesco as Senior ESG Analyst for Fixed Income. Invesco has also made more senior hires. Alexander Chan joins as Head of ESG Client Strategy, Conor Hartnett as ESG Client Strategies Manager, Maximilian Kufer as Head of ESG for Private Markets and Sudip Hazra as Director of ESG Research. “Invesco has a strong, time-tested ESG track record, with some products exceeding more than 15 years in the market. We work hard to understand our clients’ investment needs, which is central to our ability to deliver differentiated products that meet market demand,” said DiLorio.
Gresham House, a UK-based alternative asset manager, has strengthened its sustainable infrastructure team with its appointment of Ana Janine as Investment Manager. The move complements the recent £100 million first close of Gresham House’s British Sustainable Infrastructure Fund II (BSIF II), backed by the Worcestershire Pension Fund and Teesside Pension Fund. Gresham’s sustainable infrastructure team is led by Peter Bachmann, focusing on sectors such as renewables, clean tech, waste, education, healthcare and fibre. Joining from Boston Consulting Group, where she worked as a Consultant, Janine will work to further strengthen Gresham House’s focus on these sub-sectors. “Through our modern, impact-driven approach, the BSIF franchise is perfectly placed to deliver on opportunities in this space, and we are fortunate to be able to add the expertise of Janine to our team. We are also extremely proud to have cultivated a team split equally by gender, as we truly believe diverse perspectives are essential in understanding and overcoming the challenges we face today,” said Bachmann.
Samantha Lamb has been appointed as Head of Fixed Income at GIB Asset Management. Assuming her new role from 18 October, she will accelerate the firm’s sustainable development in fixed income, investing in companies progressing their sustainability journey and providing solutions. Lamb joins from abrdn, where she was Head of ESG for Fixed Income. “GIB Asset Management is committed to offering solutions that enable clients to benefit from the transition to a more sustainable economic model. With Lamb joining the team to develop our Fixed Income capability, we aim to provide innovative sustainably-focused solutions across global fixed income markets,” said Katherine Garrett-Cox, CEO of GIB Asset Management.
Beverley Yeomans has accepted the role of Chief Diversity Officer for deVere Group, an independent financial advisory, asset management and fintech organisation. Based in Malta, Yeomans is also the firm’s COO and will report to Nigel Green, Founder and CEO of deVere. “deVere is committed to making our globe-spanning organisation even more inclusive, diverse and equitable. To ensure that this critical commitment is successful, we needed someone who knows our culture inside out to lead the charge. Yeomans has been at the top of her game in a senior executive role and on the board, for some 22 years in a highly male-dominated sector. Due to traditional industry biases, it’s a depressing reality that very few women have ever achieved this level, so young, and for this long in international financial services,” said Green.
SaaS-based climate reporting platform Persefoni has announced that Rakhi Kumar will be serving on its Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB). With over 20 years of international experience across an array of sectors, Kumar will provide counsel to Persefoni’s leadership team to support the further development of the platform and future product offerings. Kumar is the Senior Vice President of Sustainability Solutions at Liberty Mutual Insurance, having previous served as Head of ESG Investing and Asset Stewardship at State Street Global Advisors. “Rakhi joins a burgeoning group of ESG and sustainability experts and brings expansive cross-sector and international experience in sustainable investment and insurance which adds critical perspective to our business strategies. The SAB plays a crucial role guiding Persefoni to develop the cutting-edge carbon accounting and disclosure features needed by our clients to enable the transition to a low carbon economy. Rakhi’s experience and perspective will greatly strengthen this effort,” said Tim Mohin, Persefoni’s Chief Sustainability Officer.
UBS has launched an ESG advisory team for its global banking arm, with Laurent Bouvier appointed as its Global Head. Under his leadership, the team will support clients’ sustainability strategies and apply an ESG lens across M&A and capital markets. He will also assume the role of Chairman of UBS’ Global Industries Group (GIG), remaining actively involved with core corporate and financial sponsor clients.
