Saá to head PRI signatory relations as Lettini named to lead Americas push

Lorenzo Saá has been named as the new Director of Networks and Global Outreach at the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) – taking over the global signatory relations role held formerly by Yann Gindre, the former Natixis executive who left last month.

In an associated move, Maria Lettini, Associate Director of Networks and Global Outreach, who previously focused on signatory recruitment worldwide, will now head up the PRI Americas team. The PRI will set up a new Americas office, though Lentini will stay in the UK.

Sonal Mahida, the former CDP and TIAA–CREF executive who joined the PRI as US Network Manager last year, will report to Lettini, who will in turn report to Saá, a spokesperson said.

Saá, who joined the PRI in 2009 and is currently Associate Director of Signatory Services, was formerly the PRI’s Head of Reporting and Assessment for five years where he oversaw the redesign of the PRI’s system for signatories to report on their responsible investment activities.Mandy Kirby, currently on maternity leave, now heads up the reporting team, with Alyssa Heath and Elina Rolfe overseeing it on an interim basis.

In his new role Saá will oversee the PRI’s signatory relations; he will continue to be based in London, reporting to the PRI’s Managing Director Fiona Reynolds, who said his long-standing relationships with key signatories would be a huge asset. He takes up the role on June 15.

Before joining the PRI, he had stints at UniCredit and MicroRate, overseeing microfinance initiatives and advising on responsible investments, as well as at the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Lettini joined the PRI in 2011 as Global Outreach Manager. She spent eight years working in institutional equity sales at J.P. Morgan and Deutsche Bank, based in both US and Europe.