Mercer ramps up responsible investment push with senior ESG hires

Investment consultant Mercer has beefed up its responsible investment credentials with the recruitment of two widely respected environmental, social and governance (ESG) industry figures.
The firm announced it has hired Richard Fuller from Australia’s A$16bn (€11.4bn) HESTA Super Fund, where he was Senior Investment Analyst, ESG and Ryan Pollice from the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment, where he was Manager, Implementation Support.
The appointments are significant because of the role investment consultants play in the decision making of institutional investors.
Fuller will be based in Melbourne and report to Helga Birgden, Mercer’s Asia Pacific Head of Responsible Investment, who will now take on additional global responsibilities.
Pollice will be based in Toronto and report to Elisabeth Bourqui, Mercer’s Canadian Head of Responsible Investment.“Both Richard and Ryan have contributed a great deal to the growing sophistication of responsible investment practices across the industry,” said Jane Ambachtsheer, Mercer’s Global Head of Responsible Investment.
“We will be looking to tap into this extensive experience and knowledge as we work with our clients on their responsible investment needs.”
Pollice leaves the PRI at a time of change for the organisation as it prepares to charge mandatory fees to signatories for the first time, radically change its governance structure and welcome a new Chairman, Wolfgang Engshuber. Long-time Chief Operating Officer Jerome Tagger announced his departure in January.

Mercer was consultant to the UN as the PRI was developed and is a signatory to the Principles. It set up its RI business in 2004.

Just last month the firm issued a blockbuster report advocating a massive institutional shift towards climate sensitive assets.