People moves

Rathbones recruits for global sustainable bond team

Goncalves spent the past eight years at Vanguard working on global corporate ESG funds and ETFs

Rathbones has appointed Vanguard’s Christie Goncalves as assistant portfolio manager, to work under Bryn Jones on fixed income strategies.

Goncalves (pictured) spent the past eight years at Vanguard working on global corporate ESG funds and ETFs, and as a senior trader with an emphasis in euro and sterling rates and credit. She also spent over four years at Stanlib Asset Management and worked as a credit manager at Barclays Africa, totalling 15 years of fixed income experience.

Bryn Jones, head of fixed income, said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Christie into the RAM fixed income team as an assistant portfolio manager. Christie is a great addition to the team, bringing global credit experience and a wealth of skills to enhance our investment capabilities.

“She joins at a fantastic time with the launch of our new global sustainable bond strategy, and when yields are looking attractive for asset allocators. Christie will be a great asset for the firm over the coming years.”

The Rathbone Greenbank Global Sustainable Bond fund, which was launched in November 2023, will be one of the strategies Goncalves is involved with. Currently the fund holds £25.5m in assets under management, according to data from FE Fundinfo.

Christie Goncalves, assistant portfolio manager, said: “With the opportunities we are seeing in fixed income, this is an exciting time to be joining Bryn and the team, who have an enviable long-term performance track record and a well-established investment process.

“I’m particularly looking forward to helping the team grow its new global fixed income strategy and employing my keen interest and experience in sustainable investing.”

This article first appeared on Portfolio Adviser.

Lazard hires portfolio manager from Impax

To work on Global Sustainable Equity strategy

Lazard Asset Management has appointed Impax’s Evie Paterson as portfolio manager and analyst, to work on the Lazard Global Sustainable Equity strategy.

Paterson began her career at Abrdn as a graduate business analyst and then a responsible investing analyst, where she stayed for over three years. She then moved to Impax, where she spent the past six years and worked on the portfolio construction team for the $12bn Global Opportunities strategy. In her new role, she will focus on global investing and ESG integration.

See also: – Lazard Q&A: Russia, inflation and climate change

Louis Florentin-Lee, managing director and portfolio manager on the global equities team at Lazard Asset Management, said: “As active managers, we are committed to our role as stewards of our clients’ capital. Evie’s sustainability expertise will greatly enhance our team and bring long term benefits to our clients.”

As of the end of 2023, Lazard’s asset management business had $246.6bn in client assets.

This article first appeared on Portfolio Adviser.

Natixis affiliate appoints sustainability lead

Will focus on developing Flexstone’s in-house ESG investing framework

Flexstone Partners, an affiliated investment manager of Natixis Investment Managers managing more than $10bn in assets, has appointed Samira Boussem as managing director and head of sustainability.

Based in France, Boussem is tasked with leading Flexstone’s sustainability strategy and responsible investment approach, which will be implemented across the firm’s various bespoke investment solutions offered to clients, designed to address key environmental, social and governance issues across private markets. Notably, she will focus on developing Flexstone’s in-house ESG investing framework, stewardship strategy and product offering.

Boussem will report to Eric Deram, managing partner at Flexstone, who will lead the ESG team.

Deram said: “As Flexstone’s clients continue to develop sustainable investment strategies, we are thrilled to have someone as experienced and talented as Samira leading this effort. Samira not only brings a vast breadth of knowledge in the world of sustainable investing, but also leadership experience in the asset management industry as we continue to think about new and interesting ways to integrate sustainability into our investment practices.”

Prior to joining Flexstone, Boussem was head of ESG at Natixis Investment Managers Solutions, where she was leading all ESG topics. She was also part of the sustainable taskforce at Natixis, helping affiliates define their sustainable journey in line with the group ESG ambition.

Commenting on her appointment, Boussem said: “Flexstone’s global reach presents a unique opportunity to make a positive impact and to lead on a variety of sustainability-related issues. I am excited to be working with Flexstone’s global team to drive impactful change, and to integrate the principles that both benefit our clients and also contribute to a more sustainable future for all stakeholders involved.”

GCP expands partnership with Monteiro appointment

Supports ESG and charity work

Growth Capital Partners (GCP) has promoted Ravi Monteiro to the firm’s partnership.

Since he joined the firm in 2014, he has helped drive the deployment of investments into GCP Fund V and supports with ESG activities across the GCP portfolio. He also acts as a mentor for young people entering the private equity industry, the firm said, alongside championing GCP’s charity initiatives and community outreach, especially for underrepresented groups in the industry.

Prior to joining GCP in 2014, Monteiro worked in advisory roles at Clearwater and EY, focused on the technology and services sectors with experience across cyber security and cloud transformation.

“Having worked with Ravi for many years now it is a pleasure to have seen him develop into a leader in the firm and to welcome him to the partnership, a promotion that is very well-deserved and comes at an exciting time for both Ravi and GCP,” said Garrett Curran, managing partner at GCP.

“Through his work over the past 10 years, Ravi has consistently shown his expertise, passion, and dedication to supporting entrepreneurial business growth and we wish him all the best of success in his new role.”

Monteiro added: “We have built an outstanding platform as a ‘go-to’ partnership investor for founder-led tech and services businesses across the UK and Ireland, and I am excited to support the firm in continuing to build that reputation as we continue to expand our business going forward.”

EdenTree reshuffles RI team as veteran Neville White retires

Carlota Esguevillas to head up team and fund manager Ketan Patel leaves the firm, ESG Clarity can exclusively reveal

EdenTree has appointed a new head of responsible investment as Neville White (pictured) retires.

Carlota Esguevillas, who was previously senior responsible investment analyst in the team, stepped into the role at the start of January 2024.

Esguevillas has been with EdenTree’s responsible investment team for around three years, working closely with White, who will be staying on in a strategic advisory capacity.

“Neville retiring was part of a planned transition so I’ll be formally doing things I suppose I’ve been informally doing over the past year,” Esguevillas said.

“We’re structured in an integrated way and that’s how we can provide the best outcomes for our clients. I consider myself very fortunate at EdenTree that [responsible investment] really is at the heart of what we do so to be able to lead that, it’s very different to being at an asset manager where quite often you see responsible investment roles as a little bit more advisory and with a little bit less clout.”

See also: – Edentree appoints head of corporate responsibility 

In her new role she will be responsible for the firm’s responsible investment activities, from screening companies to assessing its policy, its engagement and voting strategy, and researching ESG issues. She will report to CIO Charlie Thomas.

“Carlota clearly showed some really genuine leadership skills so with Neville deciding to retire, we felt like she’s the most natural bet to take on the role,” Thomas said.

Prior to joining EdenTree, Esguevillas worked in sustainability consultancy at a firm called Simply Sustainable, advising companies on ESG disclosures and strategies. Before that she had a brief stint as an intern at a microfinance charity Fundación Nantik Lum. She has a degree in geography and a masters in business and human rights.

Esguevillas will also be joining ESG Clarity’s EU Committee, taking over from fund manager Ketan Patel, who is moving on from the firm. His fund, the UK Equity Growth Fund, will be taken over by Greg Herbert, head of UK equities at EdenTree.

“Ketan has decided to leave, 100% with our support,” Thomas said.

“As part of a strategic view, that team is going to be headed by Greg Herbert, who has taken over our managed income fund.”

Amelia Gaston and Cordelia Dower-Tylee will continue in their roles as analysts in the responsible investment team and the firm is close to hiring another senior analyst.

Looking to the year ahead, as well as hiring a new analyst, Thomas said the focus now will be on the UK regulator’s Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR).

“I’m not saying we’re going to have changes but it’s an opportunity refresher. SDR is a fantastic line in the sand and it’s our springboard. Already the team is teed up and ready.”

Evenlode bolsters stewardship team with analyst hire

Lily Postlethwaite joins after five years at Whitley Asset Management

Evenlode Investment has bolstered its stewardship team with the hire of Lily Postlethwaite as stewardship analyst.

She joins after five years at Whitley Asset Management and will report directly to head of stewardship Sawan Kumar.

In the role, Postlethwaite will assist the stewardship team in incorporating ESG risks into the investment process on Evenlode’s Income, Global Income and Global Equity funds.

See also: – UK Stewardship Code signatories grow to 277

Commenting on the hire, Kumar said: “We are delighted to welcome Lily to Evenlode Investment as our newest stewardship analyst. Lily’s commitment to ESG principles, seamlessly aligns with Evenlode’s values.

“Her analytical skills and dedication to responsible investing will significantly contribute to the success of our stewardship initiatives.”

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

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