RI People & Appointments, May 8: US SIF names McGannon as Director of Policy and Programs

US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment has announced that Bryan McGannon has joined as Director of Policy and Programs. In this role, he will serve as US SIF’s lead representative advancing the interests and perspective of the sustainable, responsible and impact investing (SRI) community with policymakers and other stakeholders. He was most recently as Policy and Engagement Director for the American Sustainable Business Council; he will be at US SIF’s annual conference A New Climate for Investing in Impact in Chicago from May 11-12.

Sustainability specialist Jane Wilkinson, Partner at the Luxembourg arm of financial services firm KPMG, has been appointed Head of Sustainable Finance at the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE). Wilkinson was with KPMG for over 20 years before moving last month to LuxSE, which was the first stock exchange to list a Green Bond, and which currently lists 114 Green Bonds in 20 currencies from over 25 different issuers.

ESG specialist Jonathan Bailey, who has previously worked with both former US Vice President Al Gore and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair on investment projects, has reportedly joined investment manager Neuberger Berman as its newly created Head of ESG. The former McKinsey & Company Associate Partner joins Neuberger Berman from Canada based think tank Focusing Capital on the Long Term (FCLT). Bailey, who will report to Neuberger Berman’s President, Joseph Amato, will help portfolio managers incorporate ESG as part of their analytical approach, and will also Chair the firm’s ESG Investment Advisory Committee.

Peter Murphy, Chief Executive Officer at Australian superannuation fund Christian Super, has announced his decision to step down from the role after almost a decade. Under Murphy’s leadership the fund is reported to have grown from A$400m to A$1.2bn. Christian Super is currently preparing to recruit a permanent replacement. In March, Christian Super announced the launch of its impact investing consultancy ‘Brightlight’ – the first in the Australian superannuation industry.

Karen Hughes, General Manager, Risk and Compliance at Sydney based public sector financial services firm StatePlus, has reportedly been appointed to the newly-created role of Chief Risk Officer at superannuation provider Australian Ethical Investment, which has just announced it has exceeded A$2bn in funds under management.

Wayne Kozun, formerly Senior Vice President at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (OTPP), has reportedly joined the Advisory Board of London-based independent global alternative asset advisory firm Campbell Lutyens. Kozun, who also serves on the board of the Pacific Pension & Investment Institute (PPI), previously co-chaired OTPP’s Responsible Investment Committee and was responsible for the opening of its Asian office in Hong Kong in 2013.

Hugh Welsh, President and General Counsel at the North American arm of Dutch industrial group Royal DSM, has been unveiled as Chair of the U.S. Chamber Foundation Corporate Citizenship’s advisory board for the coming year. The U.S. Chamber Foundation Corporate Citizenship is the non-profit arm of the United States Chamber of Commerce.The NZ Corporate Governance Forum has announced Mint Asset Management as the body’s new Secretariat, with Mint Executive Director Paul Richardson serving as the Forum’s new Chair. Richardson succeeds Anne-Maree O’Connor, Head of Responsible Investment at the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, who this year completed a two-year term as Chair. The Forum has also announced Hayley Cassidy General Counsel and Company Secretary at Nikko Asset Management will assume the position of Deputy Chair.

Sasja Beslik, Nordea’s Head of Sustainable Finance, has reportedly joined the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network. The network, which is comprised of over 5,000 leading global thinkers, aims to shape the global agenda through collaborating on issues facing the world economically. Beslik joins as a specialist in the areas of insurance and asset management as well as sustainable development.

Katherine Collins has been appointed Head of Sustainable Investing at $160bn asset manager Putnam Investments, IPE reports. Collins, Founder of US ESG research firm Honeybee Capital, will lead a new sustainable investing team that will include Stephanie Henderson, a Fundamental Analyst who joins from Fidelity Investments, and Alexander Rickson, who has been at Putman for a number of years.

Pascale Helene Dubois, Chief Suspension and Debarment Officer at the World Bank Group, has been appointed Vice President of the US based development bank’s Integrity Unit (INT). Dubois, a lawyer and Certified Fraud Examiner, will assist the independent INT unit, which investigates allegations of fraud and corruption in World Bank Group-financed projects.

Karl-Ludwig Soll, Deputy Director of Finance for the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees, has reportedly been named Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the United Nations’ $54bn staff pension fund, a position that he previously held between 2012 and 2014.

Sustainability campaigner Ashok Sinha, Chief Executive of the London Cycling Campaign, has been appointed the new Chair of the London Sustainable Development Commission (LSDC) by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. The Commission, established in 2002, will look to focus on promoting economic growth that improves the quality of life for all Londoners, respects the environment, and promotes social cohesion and inclusion.

Luciano Pirovano, Corporate Social Responsibility Director at Italian seafood supplier Bolton Alimentari, has been appointed Chair of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation’s (ISSF) Board of Directors. Pirovano succeeds Juan Corrales, CEO, Grupo Conservas Garavilla, at the tuna stocks conservation and sustainability global coalition.

The St. Paul’s Institute, which aims to provide an informed Christian response to financial and business issues, is currently recruiting for a Senior Researcher to join its London based team.