This was a new appointment which required us to spend time gaining an understanding of our client’s interpretation of ESG. Given the relative infancy of ESG in many firms, our ability to bring key stakeholders on the journey was critical. Recognising the competitive nature of this market, we worked fast to create a longlist of interesting ideas. This resulted in us seeking to identify candidates with a Risk based rather than Values based approach to investing (often phrased as Value vs Values).

This is a hugely competitive area of the market and our research identified a variety of candidates, spanning traditional asset managers, asset owners, specialist consultants, think tanks and NGO’s. A high quality shortlist comprised a number of UK and international candidates, all focused on long-term investment impact. The successful candidate was a senior investor with experience of leading ESG integration across asset classes for a large international asset manager.