People moves

Aegon appoints global climate solutions lead

Anne Scott will take on the newly created role

Aegon Asset Management has appointed Anne Scott (pictured) to the newly created role of global climate solutions lead.

She joins the firm’s global fixed income team with a focus on supporting its efforts in climate solutions.

With 25 years in industry, Scott arrived at Aegon in 2005 to lead its middle office delivery teams. She joined the firm’s investment department in 2012, before leading the Mifid II structure to evaluate Aegon’s investment research consumption.

She has also co-chaired the asset manager’s global investment management risk control commitee. Before arriving at Aegon, Scott held roles at Financial Times Information and HSBC Global Fund Services.

Adrian Hull, Aegon global head of core fixed income, said: “Responsible investing has been a key element of Aegon Asset Management’s investment philosophy for more than 30 years and we are constantly reviewing our product offering to ensure we meet the needs of our clients. Most recently this has seen us shift our short-dated investment grade bond strategy to become the Global Short Dated Climate Transition Fund, focusing on the transition to a net-zero global economy.

“Anne brings deep experience of implementing regulatory change and adaptation across the business and is a strong advocate for climate solutions with real-world impact. Her appointment as global climate solutions lead allows us to accelerate our expertise in climate transition investing as we continue to adapt for the future.”

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

EdenTree adds sustainable experts to advisory panel

Annette Fergusson and Paul Simpson join

EdenTree Investment Management has added two members to its responsible investment advisory panel – an external panel of senior financial, environmental and business figures.

Annette Fergusson, an independent consultant and director of Threefold (Sustainable Advisory Services), brings more than 25 years of experience of working in sustainability and human rights. She advises companies, industry associations and non-governmental organisations on a wide range of human rights issues including digital rights, children’s rights and labour standards. She was previously Vodafone Group’s head of sustainable business and led the company’s human rights programme for more than 10 years. 

“At a time when the ESG community is being challenged and managers’ green credentials are being put to test, we are delighted to be welcomed onto EdenTree’s advisory board,” Ferguson said.

EdenTree has also added Paul Simpson, an adviser to organisations focused on accelerating the transition to a net-zero economy, who co-founded the Carbon Disclosure Project. Simpson received an OBE for services tackling climate change in the 2022 Honours List. He initiated the Science Based Targets initiative in 2014 and has held board positions with SBTi, We Mean Business, EIRIS, The Investor Agenda and the Climate Disclosure Standards Board (now part of the International Sustainability Standards Board).

“Today ESG and the transition to a net-zero economy have become a mainstream consideration for all financial institutions. I am therefore delighted to join the advisory panel of EdenTree, a pioneer of ESG investment,” Simpson said.

Andy Clark (pictured), CEO at EdenTree, added: “We’re excited to bring Annette and Paul on board at a time when the industry is facing more scrutiny than ever and expert knowledge in responsible and sustainable investing is more critical than ever.”  

Aviva Investors names climate policy head

Nick Molho joins the firm in June in newly created role

Aviva Investors has appointed Nick Molho as head of climate policy.

In the newly created role, Molho will help steer the firm’s macro stewardship programme, with an emphasis on promoting the net-zero transition at a sectoral level, as well as helping to identify and advocate for specific government policies that would drive a ‘just transition’.

This starts with hard-to-abate sectors such as energy, heavy industry, aviation and shipping, the firm said.

He will begin his new role in June and report to Steve Waygood (pictured), chief responsible investment officer.

Molho joins from the Aldersgate Group, where he led the strategic direction, work programme and policy advocacy for eight years, covering climate and environmental policy, as well as green finance.

Waygood said: “Nick is a hugely respected figure on a broad range of sustainability issues, and I have long admired his work at the Aldersgate Group and before. He brings an unrivalled amount of expertise in this field.

“His experience of engaging with companies, financial institutions, regulators, governments and policymakers will be invaluable. I am greatly looking forward to working more closely with him and continuing to advance our macro stewardship programme, which has considerable potential to help power the transition towards a sustainable future.”

Molho added: “I look forward to using my knowledge and experience to build on Aviva Investors’ achievements to date and supporting its ongoing work in calling for a timely and successful transition to net-zero emissions.”

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

GRI Standards setting body appoints chair

Carol Adams takes over from Judy Kuszewski in heading up Global Sustainability Standards Board

The Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) – the independent body that sets the GRI Standards – has appointed Carol Adams as chair.

Adams (pictured), who is professor of accounting at Durham University Business School, takes over from Judy Kuszewski on 1 April following the completion of her final term in the role in which she oversaw the introduction of the organisation’s sector programme. Kuszewski has served as chair since 2017.

Adams is a researcher in sustainability accounting and reporting, its role in driving change and its implications for practice and policy. She advises the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy on sustainability reporting, and is a member of the Australian Accounting Standards Board’s Sustainability Reporting Advisory Panel. She is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and chairs its sustainability panel.

She recently advised the UNDP in creating Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) impact standards, and the UK government’s implementation taskforce on impact investing.

Adams said she is looking forward to working with GSSB expert members to “further widen usage of GRI’s multi-stakeholder standards, which are the global blueprint for quality and comprehensive impact reporting”.

She added: “Identifying and measuring impacts on the economy, environment and society is an essential step in managing an organisation’s risks and opportunities, as well as assessing positive and negative impacts on achieving the SDGs.

“Beyond that, accountability for management approach, strategy, governance oversight and impacts through use of the GRI Standards is critical in driving change, ensuring sustainable development is not side-lined by a narrow focus on financial considerations.”

Eelco van der Enden, CEO of GRI, added: “I am delighted that Carol has accepted the position of GSSB chair, which is a crucially important role in ensuring the effective governance of the GRI Standards. I am confident that under her direction the GSSB’s influential position in the reporting landscape, including engagement with EFRAG and the ISSB, will continue to increase.

“I also want to put on record my enormous gratitude to Judy Kuszewski, who has provided myself and the organisation with such excellent guidance and leadership during her period as chair.”

Gravis hires investment director for net-zero strategy from Mirova

David Barley will focus on natural capital investment and private markets

Property and infrastructure investment advisory firm Gravis Capital Management has appointed David Barley as investment director focusing on the firm’s private markets net-zero strategies.

Barley (pictured) was most recently director for the Sustainable Ocean Fund at Mirova UK and prior to that senior adviser to the Prince of Wales’ International Sustainability Unit’s work on energy, water and food economics.

Commenting on his appointment, Barley said: “I’m excited to be joining Gravis, which has an enviable track record in launching impactful new investment strategies. There’s a great team already in place and I’m pleased to join at a time when my experience in private growth and natural capital investment will be additional.”

Phil Kent, director at Gravis, added: “We are delighted that David has chosen to join the Gravis team. He has a strong sustainability track record which will only boost the existing team’s expertise which has been growing to support private markets activity.

“The team David joins works across lower mid-market energy transition, transport, circular economy, sustainable food production and sequestration with a focus on European greenfield infrastructure opportunities.”

Barley’s appointment closely follows that of Ed Simpson, who was recently appointed as head of energy and infrastructure to oversee all direct infrastructure and renewables investment activity.

Liontrust sustainable bonds head to retire

The fund manager bows out after 34 years in the industry

Liontrust’s head of sustainable fixed income Stuart Steven is to retire in September.

Steven (pictured) has spent the past decade developing and managing the fixed income proposition within the asset manager’s sustainable investment team.

He will start to relinquish his responsibilities from April. His colleagues Aitken Ross, Kenny Watson and Jack Willis will retain their current roles as lead managers of the Liontrust SF Corporate Bond and SF Monthly Income Bond funds.

To hear more from Liontrust’s sustainable investment team look out for the March issue of the ESG Clarity digital magazine

Steven has worked in the industry for 34 years, investing in fixed income markets for 29 of these. He joined the sustainable investment team in 2013 and moved to Liontrust with the rest of the team in 2017 when the company acquired Alliance Trust Investments (ATI).

Earlier in his career Steven was head of corporate bonds at Britannic Asset Management, director of corporate bonds at Legal & General and investment director at Scottish Widows Investment Partnership.

“It is a good time for me to retire given the development and expansion of the fixed income team over the past few years,” said Steven.

“There is extensive knowledge and experience on the team with Aitken, Kenny and Jack having more than 50 years’ industry experience between them. For investors, there is continuation in both the same managers being responsible for the funds and using the same investment process.”

Aitken, Kenny and Jack will continue to be supported by three ‘Sustainable Future’ fixed income team members, along with the rest of the 16-strong Liontrust Sustainable Investment team.

Head of that team Peter Michaelis said: “Stuart has done a fantastic job of improving the integration of sustainability into our two fixed income strategies and building an excellent team. We wish him well for the future.”

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

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