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Chronos Sustainability expands human rights expertise

'Human rights an increasingly critical area of focus'

The sustainability advisory firm Chronos Sustainability has appointed Pins Brown as leading human rights expert.

Brown brings 25 years’ experience in corporate responsibility and supply chain ethics, the firm said.

Most recently, she was director of human rights at Natura & Co where she led the firm’s human rights policy and strategy.

This October, Brown became chair of the UK-based Food Network for Ethical Trade (FNET). She supported food retailers and suppliers address social challenges in the food industry.

Brown will provide technical support to Chronos’ human rights programmes, using her human rights lens to work on sustainability issues, such as biodiversity and climate change.

The chief executive of Chronos Dr Rory Sullivan said: “Many of our clients are responsible investors for whom human rights issues have become an increasingly critical area of focus in recent years. Understanding of the human rights responsibilities of investors has advanced, and the principle that investors have human rights responsibilities is now widely recognised and accepted.

“However, to effect a systems change, they need access to expertise and practical solutions to approach socially and financially material issues such as the accessibility and affordability of essential goods and services such as energy, food and water, conflict, the just transition and digital rights such as privacy and freedom of expression.

“There are few specialists who bring a similar strength of reputation, expertise and depth of knowledge as Pins and I am delighted to welcome her to our team.”

Aviva appoints Ramoutar as environmental sustainability director

Move comes after 14 years spent with Phoenix Group

Aviva has hired Phoenix Group’s Leah Ramoutar as its environmental sustainability director, bringing over 20 years of experience to the role.

Ramoutar has worked at Phoenix Group for more than 14 years, building her way from corporate finance manager to head of climate and nature risk. She previously held roles at Rianta Capital, European Capital Financial Services, KPMG, and Development Finance, Trinidad and Tobago since beginning her career in 2001.

At Aviva, Ramoutar will head the Climate Centre of Excellence and Environment Hub. Aviva announced in March 2021 its climate goals for the future, which include becoming net zero by 2040, a 25% reduction in carbon intensity of assets by 2025 and a net zero operations and supply chain by 2030.

“Aviva is well known for having a market leading approach to sustainability and a strong track record on climate action,” Ramoutar said. “This role is an exciting opportunity for me to contribute to the important work already underway to meet Aviva’s climate commitments and I look forward to joining later this year.”

In August, Aviva gave a £57m sustainable loan to the Urban Logistics Reit in a commitment to improving the sustainability of the 10 logistic assets as part of its Sustainable Transition Loans framework.

Claudine Blamey, group sustainability director of Aviva, said: “Leah is a brilliant addition to Aviva. As environmental sustainability director, she will be instrumental in delivering our ambitious climate agenda to be net zero by 2040.

“Sustainability is central to Aviva’s strategy, and with recent global weather events showing how urgently we all need to take action to be climate ready, it’s fantastic to bring Leah’s skills and experience to the business.”

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

Bridges hires Jones as head of value creation

Helping impactful businesses

Bridges Fund Management, the specialist private market firm, has appointed Henry Jones as partner and head of value creation.

Jones will lead Bridges‘ impact-integrated value creation function, working across the firm’s portfolio of operating companies.

The firm said in a statement Jones (pictured) is an “experienced business builder and has a tracked record of driving growth in international businesses”.

His previous roles include leading the US West Coast operation and global tech practice at Axiom, a tech-enabled legal services company. He was also in charge of EMEA and international growth at Aconex, an Australian construction tech business.

Most recently, Jones was chief executive of the online mental health support community, Togetherall. In this role, he rebuilt the leadership team and technology platform and supervised a launch in the US.

Commenting on the appointment, Philip Newborough, co-chief executive of Bridges Fund Management, said: “For the last two decades, Bridges has been helping impactful businesses to maximize their growth and impact potential. Henry’s appointment will allow us to build on this experience and pull together our existing value creation initiatives – while also drawing on his impressive track record as a business leader and operator. This combination will strengthen our credentials as the investment partner of choice for businesses that are helping to solve the world’s biggest challenges over the next decade.”

Aviva Investors appoints liquid markets ESG head

Louise Piffaut was previously head of ESG integration for equities at the firm

Aviva Investors has completed its ESG senior management team with the appointment of Louise Piffaut as head of ESG, liquid markets.

Previously head of ESG integration for equities, Piffaut will now oversee the firm’s approach to stewardship, including its voting and engagement activities, as well as continuing to look at ESG integration.

“We’re really pleased to have Louise step into this new role,” said global head of ESG Mirza Baig.

“Working closely alongside the wider responsible investment function, the ESG team connects our portfolio level ESG activities with our macro stewardship programmes, ensuring a holistic and integrated approach to supporting the transition to a more sustainable future.”

Alongside Baig and Piffaut in Aviva Investors’ ESG senior management team is head of sustainable outcomes Sam Tripuraneni; head of responsible investment, real assets, Ed Dixon; ESG strategy director Jess Foulds; and sustainability ambition director Candice Thorpe.

Van Lanschot Kempen IM adds two PMs to sustainable equity strategy

Huub van der Riet and Chong Peng join the Netherlands-based firm

Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management has hired two portfolio managers to its sustainable equity team.

Huub van der Riet will join as senior portfolio manager from 1 October. He has 28 years of experience in the financial sector, including the past 23 years at Goldman Sachs Asset Management (formerly NNIP, ING IM). He shaped NNIP’s impact strategies and was lead portfolio manager impact strategies for the past seven years. Van der Riet started his career at ABN Amro and Aegon.

Chong Peng joined the firm as portfolio manager on 15 September. She joins from APG Asset Management, where she progressed from a traineeship to portfolio manager of the focus equity strategy, which has an ESG focus.

Commenting on the appointments, Ivo Kuiper, head of sustainable equity strategy, said: “We are delighted that Huub and Chong are joining our team. Both have extensive experience, along with a proven sustainability track record. With this reinforcement, we are well positioned to further shape our clients’ sustainability ambitions.”

Climate Asset Management appoints trio of independent directors

Andrea Abrahams will chair Nature Based Carbon Fund investment committee

Climate Asset Management – the HSBC and Pollination joint venture – has appointed Andrea Abrahams to chair its Nature Based Carbon Fund investment committee.

Abrahams is managing director of voluntary carbon markets at the International Emissions Trading Association and has experience driving strategic decarbonisation programmes for global organisations and NGOs.

The announcement comes as the firm also appoints Pollination senior adviser Hugh Killen as non-executive board chair and former Natural Capital Fund investment committee member Irina Frolova as chair of the committee.

Martin Berg, CEO of Climate Asset Management, said: “On behalf of our shareholders, we welcome Hugh, Irina and Andrea into their new roles within the expanding Climate Asset Management family. Their collective experience will, I know, make a significant contribution to the leadership and governance of our business.”

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