The Co-Operative’s Herron joins Aviva Investors as Head of Engagement

The Co-operative Asset Management’s (TCAM) corporate governance head Abigail Herron has been appointed Head of Engagement at Aviva Investors, the UK fund manager with £274bn (€315.9bn) in assets under management.

Herron’s appointment follows that of Adeline Diab earlier this year from Dutch pension management giant APG as Head of Integration in Aviva’s Global Responsible Investment Team.

Herron will report to Steve Waygood, Aviva’s Chief Responsible Investment Officer.

At the Co-Operative, Herron led engagement with companies and analysis/policy on environmental, social and governance issues such as pay and gender/diversity as well as overseeing sustainability at the group’s real estate investments. She took the role in 2009.

She sits on the Leadership Committee of UKSIF, the UK’s social investment forum, as well as the FTSE4Good Banking Sector Working Group and the 30% Club Investor Group, the board diversity advocacy group.In her new role, Herron will develop engagement strategy for “all relevant asset classes”.

She will lead and support Aviva fund managers’ engagement with senior management across all holdings and asset classes.

“Abigail brings with her a very strong track record in developing and implementing engagement programmes at the highest level,” Waygood said.

Earlier this month, Aviva Investors named Standard Life’s Euan Munro as its new CEO.

It was announced in March that TCAM, which in 2002 became the first UK fund management house to disclose how it votes at company annual meetings, was to be sold to Royal London, the mutually owned life and asset management firm.

The Co-operative is advertising for Herron’s replacement here.