In line with a growing global institutional investment bent both ANZ Investments and Mercer NZ hired environmental, social and governance (ESG) executives last week to newly established roles.
The $10 billion plus Mercer named Mark Longbottom as sustainable investment specialist while ANZ hired Helen Skinner as head of responsible investments.
Most recently head of corporate responsibility for health insurer Southern Cross, Longbottom has worked for more than two decades in “purpose-driven organisations” in NZ and the UK, Mercer says in a release.
Martin Lewington, Mercer NZ chief, said the group created the new role to meet a growing demand for ESG investments across all client types.
“It’s clear that investing sustainably is more important than ever among institutional and retail investors, particularly socially responsible global equities,” Lewington said in the statement.
“With Mark as an integral member of our Sustainable Investment team, we can build on our capability and capacity to help local clients reach their investment goals.”
Similarly, ANZ – which plucked Skinner from her current role as head of emerging wealth at Craigs Investment Partners – is upping its ESG dosage in light of industry and client trends, according to chief investment officer, Paul Huxford.
“This appointment highlights the importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors including the impact of climate change into our investment process,” Huxford said.
ANZ is the largest non-government fund manager in NZ with more than $35 billion under management.
Skinner officially starts the new gig in June.
And the recent NZ responsible investment special purpose job creations follow a string of similar appointments in Australia (with many of the new roles covering trans-Tasman duties) over the last few weeks, including:
- The newly vowel-less UK-headquartered abrdn (formerly Aberdeen) created a global sustainability group to be headed by Amanda Young with Danielle Welsh-Rose to lead the Asia-Pacific division;
- Australia-headquartered First Sentier Investors (formerly Colonial First State Global Asset Management) hired three new responsible investment specialists across its global business while recruiting for two more to be based in Sydney; and,
- Citi named head of debt markets in Australia, Ian Campbell, as head of sustainability and corporate transactions sustainability for the bank’s capital markets and advisory business. Campbell will be responsible for the group’s “ESG strategy, and client engagement in Australia and New Zealand”, a release says;
At the same time, JP Morgan Asset Management hired Roland Rott to the new head of sustainable investing research role in the UK.
Jennifer Wu, JPMAM global head of sustainable investing, said in statement: “Roland is a great compliment to the existing team, which includes a diverse mix of talent ranging from sustainable investing specialists, stewardship specialists, climate scientists, academics, researchers, as well as those with a background in traditional fundamental portfolio management.”