People moves

Liontrust adds two analysts to sustainable investment team

Team led by Peter Michaelis

Liontrust has added investment analyst Connor Godsell and equity analyst Linnea Bengtsson to its sustainable investment team, to its now 18-strong team.

Peter Michaelis is head of the team, which includes seven members with a fixed income focus. Godsell will join the Edinburgh office while Bengtsson will be based in London.

See also: – Liontrust’s Michaelis: ‘Reporting only gets you so far’

Godsell (pictured left) has moved from abrdn, after seven years on the rates and inflation desk, working his way from investment analyst to investment manager. He will focus on rates analysis for the fixed income strategies.

Bengtsson (pictured right) was previously at Ninety One Asset Management as an equity analyst for its sustainable investment team, with an emphasis on industries including biotech, sustainable agriculture and pharma. In her new role, she will look at global clean tech opportunities.

“Connor and Linnea are strong additions to the Sustainable Investment team. It is great to have been able to secure someone of Connor’s experience and calibre to support the fixed income strategies. Linnea brings rare expertise in both sustainability and financial analysis,” Michaelis said.

“They join at a time when the team believes our long-term sustainable themes, such as innovation in healthcare and digital security, are as strong as ever. This gives us great confidence for our investment strategies, along with the attractive valuations for stocks we hold and the future growth prospects for our companies as they are generally performing well operationally.”

The sustainable investment team started in 2001 under the leadership of Michaelis. It includes strategies such as the GF Sustainable Future US Growth fund, the Sustainable Future Monthly Income Bond fund, and the Sustainable Future Cautious Managed fund, among others.

This article first appeared on ESG Clarity’s sister title Portfolio Adviser.

Pollination appoints State Street director as senior adviser

To help clients navigate the evolving nature and biodiversity landscape

Pollination, the nature investment and advisory firm, has appointed Dame Amelia Fawcett as senior adviser to the business.

Currently, Fawcett is the lead director of State Street, co-chair of the International Panel on Biodiversity Credits (IAPB), chair of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and chair of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance.

She will be advising Pollination on how to help clients navigate the evolving nature and biodiversity landscape.

Fawcett has had previous senior roles at Morgan Stanley, the Wellcome Trust, HM Treasury, Bank of England, Guardian Media Group and The Prince of Wales’ Charitable Foundation.

Fawcett said: “I’m truly delighted to join Pollination as a senior adviser. In the face of the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate, Pollination is perfectly placed to drive impact around the world and add value to its clients in this complex and critical space.

“2024 will be a crucial year for nature and I look forward to working with Pollination’s team and its clients to ensure the promise of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is realised and we maintain momentum on halting and reversing biodiversity loss.”

Pollination’s chief executive and founder, Martijn Wilder, added: “We are honoured to have Fawcett join our esteemed senior advisory group. To attract someone of her calibre is a coup and a clear indication to the market that Pollination is the ‘go-to’ partner for climate and nature advisory and investment.”

Cockerill exits Rowan Dartington for Verso IM

Established the ESG investment process at Rowan Dartington where he worked for 12 years

Tim Cockerill, member of the ESG Clarity Committee, is departing his role at Rowan Dartington after 12 years to join Verso Investment Management as investment strategy director.

Verso IM is the discretionary fund management arm of Verso Wealth Group, and Cockerill’s new role will centre around developing a proposition and range of products for Verso’s clients and advisers. He will work alongside CIO Rory Smith and director and co-founder Andrew Fay, and will also join the investment committee.

Click here for all articles by Tim Cockerill

Smith said: “We are delighted to welcome Tim to Verso. His wealth of knowledge and impressive track record make Tim a key addition to our investment team. Given the breadth and depth of Tim’s experience, his insights will be invaluable across many aspects of our business so he will be collaborating on multiple initiatives to help us achieve our strategic goals.”

At Rowan Dartington, Cockerill established the firm’s first ESG portfolio and embedded ESG into all aspects of the investment process. He also headed up fund research and built and managed the CPS service. Prior to his time at Rowan Dartington, he led the fund research teams at Ashcourt Rowan and Chartwell Investment Management.

Cockerill said: “I am excited to be joining Verso Investment Management at this point in its strategic journey. It offers exactly the type of opportunity that motivates me. There are ambitious targets to meet but the team is ready to capitalise on the numerous growth opportunities available to it. I am delighted to be involved in something that I can make a real contribution to.”

Alan Mathewson, Verso’s group chief executive, added: “Tim’s arrival is a major statement of our ambition – in addition to his skills as an investment manager, he has a deep understanding of the critical synergy that needs to exist between investment managers and financial advisors to ensure that the investment solutions we develop, meet the needs of our clients.”

Porter appointed chair of Big Issue Invest

Replaces Warren Taylor in the role

The Big Issue Group has elected Mark Porter as chair of their social investment arm, Big Issue Invest (BII), replacing departing chair Warren Taylor.

Porter has spent over 35 years in the financial services industry in investment management, banking and investor services, which saw him hold a number of executive and board positions within institutional and private equity backed businesses, including at UBS, MUFG and more recently Equiom Group.

The move comes at a time when BII says it looking to build stronger relationships with the wider investment community. 

Danyal Sattar, CEO of BII, commented: “There is ever more need to provide critical investments in social enterprises which address social inequality and poverty. That impact can only be delivered through forging deeper relationships with the investment community. Mark’s appointment will help us address this important challenge. 

“We have exceptional board and committee members here at Big Issue Invest and, as well as their more conventional governance role, they play an invaluable function in understanding and holding our impact mission and providing continuity of knowledge over the years. Mark’s skills and experience are a great complement to mine, and I look forward to working him over the coming years.”

BII’s departing chair Taylor said after over seven years as chair of the board, it was time to give someone else the honour of helping lead the organisation.

“We have achieved many good things over these years, but as is clear, the need for BII’s work is now greater than ever. I welcome Mark’s appointment and consider him to be absolutely the right person to help take the company forward to even more growth and success in delivering on the Big Issue Group’s mission.”

Commenting on his appointment, Porter said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be asked to join the board of Big Issue Invest. The Big Issue Group has so many talented people delivering critical social impact in such a diverse and innovative set of ways. I hope to able to play some small part in that journey, helping the BII CEO Danyal Sattar and his executive team in building on a great platform for a sustained period of growth, enabling the business to deliver ever greater impact.”

EdenTree IM appoints chair of responsible investment panel

Panel advises on EdenTree’s responsible investment process, approach and ethical dilemmas

EdenTree Investment Management has appointed a chair of its responsible investment advisory panel.

Will Oulton (pictured) takes up the role, bringing a wealth of experience from across the sustainable investment arena.

He is currently chair of the European Sustainable Investment Forum (Eurosif), a non-executive director and board champion for ocean recovery at the UK-based Marine Conservation Society, as well as chair of King Charles III’s Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) Expert Panel.

Prior to these positions, Oulton was global head of responsible investment at First Sentier Investors for 10 years between 2012 and 2022.

There he spearheaded the development and implementation of an award-winning global, integrated, value-adding responsible investment strategy.

In his new position on the EdenTree responsible investment advisory panel, Oulton joins other senior financial and business figures who are appointed for their deep knowledge and expertise to independently monitor the firm’s responsible and sustainable investment approach. 

Members advise on EdenTree’s responsible investment process, approach and ethical dilemmas. 

Commenting on the appointment, Carlota Esguevillas, who was this month appointed head of responsible investment at EdenTree in a reshuffle, said: “The responsible investment advisory panel is a critical component of our commitment to responsible and sustainable investing. 

“The panel ensures we have a forum to debate, test and evolve ideas that underpin our investment approach and that we remain fully accountable in our actions. 

“Will’s experience and expertise speaks for itself and will be invaluable as we navigate a continued period of change for the industry and our clients.”

Oulton, chair of EdenTree’s responsible investment advisory panel, added: “Having served as a member of the panel in the past, I am fully aware of the value the members can collectively bring to the thinking of the team.  

“The landscape for responsible and sustainable investment is becoming more challenging and complex and I am sure that my experience can help the panel to provide valuable guidance to Carlota and her team going forward.”

Ex-PRI CEO Reynolds takes role advising FAIRR

Will help catalyse growth of the initiative

The Jeremy Coller Foundation has appointed Fiona Reynolds, former chief executive of Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), in an advisory role as president of the FAIRR initiative and the Coller Pensions Institute (CPI).

Founded in 2015, the FAIRR initiative provides market data, research and tools to help investors understand ESG risks and opportunities in the global food sector. The initiative is currently backed by investors managing over $70trn (£55trn) of assets.

The CPI was recently launched by the Jeremy Coller Foundation to promote pension solutions to catalyse sustainable economic growth and social security.

Reynolds brings 30 years’ experience in the financial sector, superannuation and pension sector, including a decade at PRI. She holds several leadership roles with sustainable finance organisations, including chair of the UN Global Compact Network Australia and serves on the Board of Frontier Advisors and the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute.

Reynolds will offer counsel to FAIRR’s founder and chair, Jeremy Coller, and take a lead of the development of the CPI. She will represent the initiative at public forums, including international conferences and high-level dialogues.

Jeremy Coller said: “We’re delighted to have Fiona joining the team, bringing her wealth of experience and expertise to our initiatives.

“During her time at PRI, Fiona helped move the concept of ESG from a niche to the mainstream, and I look forward to working with her and drawing on her unique insights to benefit our global network of investors and partners.”

Reynolds added: “I’m thrilled at the opportunity to contribute to the work of the Jeremy Coller Foundation, and helping continue its efforts to catalyse transformation in the food sector, and find pension solutions for responsible economic growth.

“I look forward to working with the team to bring investors together to achieve the shared aims of generating sustainable returns, while building a sustainable food and agriculture sector.”

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