People & Appointments: Promotion for CalPERS’ Anne Simpson, Maarten Vleeschhouwer moves to NGO

Anne Simpson has been named interim MID of Board Governance and Sustainability at The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). Simpson, one of the founders of Climate Action 100+, currently serves as Investment Director of Board Governance and Strategy and has been with CalPERS for more than 10 years. In her new role she will continue to advise on board governance and strategy, along with strategies for specific programs within investments, including the Emerging Manager Programme and the sustainable investment strategic plan. 

2° Investing Initiative has appointed former European Commission and Dutch Central Bank heavyweight Maarten Vleeschhouwer as its Head of PACTA, overseeing the launch of its latest platform. He joins the think tank from the European Commission, where he worked on the Action Plan on Financing Sustainable Growth. Vleeschhouwer previously worked at the Dutch National Bank. In addition to Vleeschhouwer’s appointment, Gabrielle Couderc has been promoted to Director of Admin and Finance, and Daisy Pacheco has joined as an analyst focused on emerging markets. Jacob Kastl also joins to support the implementation of the climate scenario analysis partnerships with financial supervisors and governments. 

The board of Norilsk Nickel has recommended the creation of a new sustainability role following a fuel spill in the Arctic city of Norilsk where the company is based. The new position at the Russian mining company would focus on sustainable development and environmental issues and comes after 21,000 tonnes of diesel leaked into rivers and subsoil earlier this month. 

Jeff Ubben is set to leave the $16bn hedge fund he founded and runs, ValueAct Capital, to start a new fund focused on environmentally and socially responsible investing. The investor has said he believes companies “aren’t working for society or nature”. The fund, Inclusive Capital Partners, will be launched in partnership with the CEO of the Coalition for Inclusive Capitalism, Lynn Forester de Rothschild. 

Ulrika Hasselgren will leave Danske Bank, where she serves as Global Head of Sustainability and Impact Investment and Wealth Management Leadership Member. Hasselgren took over from Tonny Thierry Andersen in February 2018. She co-founded Ethix SRI Advisors in Stockholm in 1999.

Andrew Junkin has been named Chief Investment Officer of Rhode Island State, overseeing the State Investment Commission including the $8.4bn Rhode Island Employees' Retirement System. Junkin joins Rhode Island from Wilshire Consulting where he served as president for five years. He replaces Alec Stais, who has joined Providence Health & Services as CIO. 

Hans Stegeman has been appointed Chief Investment Strategist at Triodos Investment Management, leading the newly-established Investment Strategy department. Stegeman has been at Triodos Investment Management since February 2017. Prior to joining the firm, he worked at Rabobank in several roles including Netherlands Chief Economist. He started his career at the CPB Netherlands bureau working on economic policy analysis.