People moves

ThomasLloyd creates head of impact and ESG role

Smita Nakhooda joins from Asian Development Bank

ThomasLloyd has hired former Asian Development Bank principal results management specialist Smita Nakhooda to a newly-created role as head of impact and ESG.

Nakhooda will work across the group, focusing on both internal and external corporate initiatives, as well as further developing the firm’s investment framework. She will be based in Zurich and will report to chief executive Michael Sieg.

At Asia Development Bank, Nakhooda was responsible for leading the integration of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the bank’s policies and key performance indicators. During her time at the bank, she also worked on the development of impact measurement and management standards to mobilise the financing needed to deliver on the SDGs.

Before that she was a senior research fellow at the Overseas Development Institute in London, where she was responsible for leading a dedicated work stream examining the role of financial markets in addressing climate change.

Sieg said: “Smita not only brings to ThomasLloyd her international expertise in sustainable and climate finance, but she is also joining us with years of experience working in some of our core and target markets.

“As an Indian national and having worked in the Philippines for several years, Smita brings unique local insights and on-the-ground expertise that will be key in helping us tap into the most compelling sustainable infrastructure investment opportunities in the world’s fastest growing economies.

“We have always recognised the critical importance of building local teams with a genuine knowledge and understanding of the markets we operate in as part of our investment model so her joining the group is a great opportunity to further enhance this model.” 

Quilter hires head of wellbeing from Disney

Daisy Dupree-Loxton will expand the wealth manager's Thrive programme

Quilter has hired a head of wellbeing from The Walt Disney Company.

Daisy Dupree-Loxton joins the wealth manager to develop its employee wellbeing programme Thrive, which aims to address physical, social, financial, emotional and mental wellbeing.

See also: – Quilter DEI head: ‘The industry is anti-diversity’

Dupree-Loxton was manager of wellbeing and mental health at Disney, where she embedded programmes such as Mental Health First Aiders. Prior to that she held human resources (HR) roles at Kingfisher and EY.  

Commenting on the appointment, Penny Cole, Quilter HR director, said: “We’re really pleased to bring in someone with Daisy’s experience of working across different sectors, where employees face differing pressures and challenges. The world of work is evolving rapidly, and it has never been more important to protect employee wellbeing and create the right kind of experience for people.”

Dupree-Loxton added: “We spend the majority of our time in work and if that workplace doesn’t look after us, it can have long lasting impact on our physical and mental health.

“Having worked across the media, consumer goods and retail industries, I have also seen how this is particularly acute in fast paced and high-performing cultures. That is why I am delighted to be joining Quilter – a business that recognises the importance of workplace wellbeing and actively supports its employees.

“I am excited to build on the existing Thrive programme and focus on smashing the stigma around mental health while supporting employees throughout their personal and professional life events.”

Nordea hires head of active ownership

Cecilia Fryklöf will lead the seven-member team

Nordea Asset Management has appointed Cecilia Fryklöf as head of active ownership.

Fryklöf heads the seven-member active ownership capability, which sits within the broader 29-strong responsible investment team.

Each year, the active ownership team conducts a range of structured engagements, typically in close contact with portfolio managers, and in collaboration with investor groups and coalitions. Last year, it conducted 1,033 engagements. These focused on climate, human rights, biodiversity/water and good governance. The team also voted in more than 4,200 general meetings last year. 

Fryklöf joins from the Nordea Group’s sustainability team, where she was business area lead within asset and wealth management – working on sustainability strategy and ESG regulation of Nordea Life and Pensions. Fryklöf has been at the Nordea Group for more than 15 years, after beginning her career at Nordea Markets in 2007.

Earth Capital appoints CEO

Founder Gordon Power becoming chair at the impact investor

Impact investor Earth Capital has made a number of senior appointments as co-founder Gordon Power moves into the role of chair.  

Avent Bezuidenhoudt has been promoted from head of investment to CEO, while Elise Hockley has moved from head of communications to take on the role of COO and head of investor relations.

Bezuidenhoudt has worked at Earth Capital since July 2020 joining initially as an investment director before working her way up.

Commenting on her new role as CEO she said: “It’s a pleasure and an honour to be given the opportunity to lead the team into the next stage of the business’ growth. With the support of our co-founders Stephen Lansdown CBE and Gordon Power, and the rest of the Earth Capital team, I look forward to continuing to make great investments that have a real positive impact on the world we live in and hope to protect.”

Hockley joined in June 2018 as investor relations and marketing manager before also moving her way up into more senior roles.

Amid the reshuffle, Bradley Jones has been appointed senior investment manager, and Kay Nelson has joined as financial controller.

Incoming chair Power said: “Since the founding of Earth Capital in 2008, it has been our aim to invest in and develop businesses that have a positive impact on our planet. Moving into this new role and handing the reins to Avent and the team will support the strategy of the firm to continue building innovative and impactful businesses.”

PwC appoints global ESG leader amid growth plans

Plans to grow ESG revenues 10-fold over four years

Will Jackson-Moore (pictured) has been appointed global ESG Leader at PwC amid ambitious plans to expand its ESG services to clients.

The professional services group said it plans to grow ESG revenues 10-fold over the next four years as it continues its roll out of ‘The New Equation’ – a strategy to help clients build trust and deliver sustained outcomes.

Jackson-Moore steps as global ESG leader after leading the groups global private equity and sovereign investment funds arms and the group said in a statement his experience working with private equity firms as they factor climate into their portfolio strategies will bring a focus on delivery that he expects to be a hallmark of PwC’s approach to helping clients.

He said: “ESG is the defining business issue. Our global footprint gives us the opportunity – and responsibility – to help answer the challenge at scale. Every aspect is important, but right now the urgent need is to move beyond strategy and deliver the practical steps needed to tackle climate change. The focus must be on net-zero transformation of businesses and their supply chains, mobilising sustainable capital, enhancing resilience against climate risks and delivering robust reporting on progress.

“I am excited about helping our people create value by delivering sustained outcomes for our clients and stakeholders.”

PwC highlighted over 100,000 employees have already taken part in ESG training.

State Street recruits head of ESG from Thomson Reuters

Amani Boros is based in Zurich

State Street Corporation has hired Amani Boros from Thomson Reuters as head of ESG for State Street International GmbH (SSBI).

Based in Zurich, she will lead SSBI’s sustainability and ESG efforts by developing and overseeing the ESG strategy and lead interactions with clients, regulators and stakeholders.

At Thomson Reuters, she was most recently a director and prior to that worked at Credit Suisse as head of risk and control for the sustainability, strategy and finance group.

Dagmar Kamber Borens, Switzerland country head for State Street, commented: “The way we incorporate ESG and sustainability is integral in generating outstanding results and effectively serving our clients to achieve their objectives. We are delighted to welcome Amani to the firm to lead us in these efforts, and her experience will be immensely valuable to State Street and our clients.”

Boros added: “I am excited about the future vision and roadmap as we continue to evolve our ESG approach. As a leading global financial institution, State Street has a vital role to play in supporting businesses and economies to thrive in the transition. I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues across State Street to drive our ESG strategy forward.”

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