Kiernan leaves RiskMetrics just eight months after Innovest sale

Matthew Kiernan is leaving RiskMetrics Group just eight months after the company bought Innovest, the firm that Kiernan founded and co-led. Since the acquisition in February this year, Kiernan had taken up the role of co-head of the Sustainability Solutions Group at RiskMetrics. However, a spokesperson for the group confirmed that Kiernan would be leaving shortly: “Matt is leaving to pursue personal interests and we wish him all the best for his future endeavours.” Hewson Baltzell, co-founder and former president of Innovest is staying with RiskMetrics as co-head of the Sustainability Solutions Team, working alongside Ran Fuchs, team head. RiskMetrics was linked last week to an imminent buy-out of Boston-based KLD Research & Analytics.
The spokesperson declined to comment.Responsible-Investor.com has learned that final discussions between the two companies are taking place and an announcement on a deal is expected shortly. Kiernan, former CEO and founder of Innovest is a well-known figure in the responsible investment world and it is thought that he will remain in the field.
He could not be reached for comment at the time of going to press.
RiskMetrics, which was spun out of JP Morgan, the US banking group, in 1998 has been rapidly increasing its presence in the responsible investment field in recent years.
Matthew Kiernan will be speaking at The Future of ESG Integration, 11 November, Amsterdam.