ESG Investor’s weekly round-up of new hires in the sustainable investing sector, including Trillium AM, LOIM, Capital Group, Parhelion and FTSE Russell.
Trillium Asset Management has strengthened its UK team with the appointment of three new team members, hired to broaden the firm’s product offering, ESG investments and shareholder advocacy. Andrea Zdanaviciute has joined Trillium as an ESG Research Specialist. With over 10 years of experience across banking, research and sustainable finance, Zdanaviciute most recently worked in sustainable finance for the United Nations and will now work collaboratively with ESG colleagues in the US on the implementation of all aspects of the ESG investing process. “With its 40-year-old heritage, Trillium is a highly regarded ESG focused investment firm, with a robust and proven investment process that has delivered strong returns for clients through investing responsibly and sustainably.” said Zdanaviciute. Melanie Miao will be joining Trillium at the end of October as an Investment Analyst. In her new role, she will be responsible for conducting detailed bottom-up research on long-only concentrated positions. Miao has prior experience working on ESG issues, such as active ownership and engagement, as well conducting in-depth analysis of sectors and companies. The final hire is Vickie Little, who joins as Office Manager and Investment Assistant. She has previously held roles at Standard Life Investments and Standard Life Aberdeen. “Their industry knowledge offers a diverse range of experience and perspectives which will ultimately benefit our clients’ portfolios. We are pleased Trillium’s strong heritage and robust, proven investment process has garnered the attention of exceptional talent as we strengthen our footprint and further build out our offering,” said Jamie Mariani, Portfolio Manager at Trillium. Following these appointments, the firm will be launching a suite of global ESG-focused equities strategies.
Dr Lorenzo Bernasconi has been appointed as Head of Climate and Environmental Solutions at Lombard Odier Investment Managers (LOIM). The newly created role signals the firm’s commitment to developing its sustainability expertise to support its holistic approach to climate transition objectives across its investment strategies. Bernasconi will leverage his industry experience to develop LOIM’s range of existing products in the climate and nature-based solutions space. He has held previous roles at UBS, Boston Consulting Group and The Rockefeller Foundation. During his time at the latter, he managed the ‘Zero Gap’ portfolio and invested in solutions that contributed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Bernasconi is the founding Board Chair of the Emergent Forest Finance Accelerator, a non-profit intermediary. “Bernasconi brings a rare blend of knowledge and experience that will support us immensely as we continue to expand our climate and natural capital offering across asset classes. Globally, investor appetite for natural climate solutions is surging and this is good news as 50% of our global economy depends on natural capital, and nature has the potential to deliver over a third of emissions reductions to 2030, if it is harnessed appropriately,” said Dr Christopher Kaminker, Group Head of Sustainable Investment Research and Strategy at Lombard Odier.
Belinda Gan has joined Capital Group as ESG Investment Director for its Europe and Asia Client Group. Partnering with Capital Group’s ESG team, she will lead the client service offering on ESG, working with client, consultants, other intermediaries and Capital Group associates on their approach to ESG and investment philosophy across a range of strategies. She will report to Alexandra Haggard, Head of Product and Investment Services for Europe and Asia. Prior to her appointment, Gan served as Investment Director of Global Sustainability for Schroders UK. She is also a member of the Investment Association’s Sustainability and Responsible Investment Committee. “Capital Group’s long-term investing approach has ESG deeply woven into it. Such a thoughtful and robust approach is imperative in helping clients navigate their evolving needs on ESG and I am looking forward to leading Capital Group’s efforts in this area,” said Gan.
Parhelion, an energy and climate risk finance insurance company, has hired David Foreman as its Chair. Foreman has over 45 years of insurance industry experience, including underwriting oversight of four profitable Lloyd’s syndicate. He is also a founding member and Chief Underwriting Officer of Ark Syndicate Management. Parhelion aims to contribute to the UN SDGs through its use of new technologies and data to enhance ESG insights, products and customer services. Organisations that demonstrate tangible improvements in their ESG-related performance will be rewarded with higher capacity and potentially lower insurance costs. “To take on a leadership role at the world’s first fully-sustainable insurer was an opportunity I could not pass up; it´s exciting to lead a team focused on setting the standard for what insurers of the future could, and should, look like. From inception, Parhelion intends to lead by placing the environment, people and governance first, thereby proactively responding to current global pressures with unique solutions,” said Foreman.
Atsuhito Mori has joined FTSE Russell as Head of Sustainable Investment for Japan. He will be responsible for investment indexes and data products in the country, engaging with clients on a range sustainable products and data to support them in their investment decisions. Mori will also lead the expansion of FTSE Russell’s sustainable investment product range for Japan. He joins from Orix Bank, where he served as Head of Asset Management. “We are delighted to welcome Mori to our growing sustainable investment team in APAC. His deep knowledge of the asset management sector in Japan will prove invaluable as we expand the range of climate and broader ESG indexes and data products in the region. Japan is a key market for FTSE Russell. With highly developed capital markets and major, influential asset owners, the country will play an important role in the global transition to a low carbon economy,” said Helena Fung, Head of Sustainable Investment for APAC at FTSE Russell.
