RI People & Appointments, November 5: AP4, UBS and World Benchmarking Alliance all seeking ESG experts

Swedish buffer fund AP4 is seeking a quantitative analyst with an interest in sustainability for its Strategic Allocation & Quantitative Analysis Unit, which is responsible for the overall analysis and management of the fund’s assets. The chosen applicant with help develop and maintain the models and methodology underpinning management of global equities, currency, sustainability strategies, portfolio structure and ALM, alongside other responsibilities.
UBS is hiring an impact investment analyst to contribute to research the impact investment ecosystem and develop client outreach strategies. The role is based in Zurich.
Four candidates are hoping become directors at UKSIF, the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association. They are: Julia Dreblow, the Founder of sriServices & Fund EcoMarket (proposed by Keyte Chartered Financial Planners and M&G Investment Management); Louise Dudley, a Director and Portfolio Manager at Hermes Investment Management (proposed by Hermes and seconded by Brunel Pension Partnership); Tanya Pein, the Head of Financial Advice at Castlefield Advisory Partners (incumbent, proposed by Ferrier Pearce and seconded by Royal Bank of Scotland); and Alexia Zavos, the Head of Client Engagement for Sustainable Funds at Stewart Investors (incumbent, proposed by HSBC Global Asset Management and seconded by FTSE Russell). Voting for the position takes place ahead of UKSIF’s AGM on November 27.
Canada’s Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan has promoted Head of Natural Resources Stephen McLennan to Senior Managing Director of the plan’s new total fund management department. McLennan joined Ontario Teachers’ in 2003 as a Senior Investment Analyst for fixed income.
The World Benchmarking Alliance, which is working towards private sector sustainability, is recruiting an “experienced leader” to take up a role as engagement director. The successful candidate will sit on its executive board and “play a fundamental role in taking the WBA forward”.
Germany’s Skagen Funds has appointed Josef Scarfone as Managing Director to develop its presence in the local market, particularly in the wholesale and institutional segments. Skagen was bought by Swedish giant Storebrand last year. Scarfone previously worked at Lazard Asset Management where he was responsible for the wholesale business in both Germany and Austria. Commenting on the appointment, Scarfone said that in particular, “the multifactor and ESG-based solutions of Storebrand Funds will attract considerable interest in the German market.”
Stephen Haddrill has confirmed he is to step down from his role as CEO of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), the UK governance watchdog, in late 2019. As Sir John Kingman’s review of the FRC and the search for a new CEO are ongoing, Haddrill’s exact departure date is unconfirmed. Haddrill said he is “fully committed” to progressing the FRC’s work on audit reform, investor stewardship, corporate reporting and preparation for Brexit in the meantime.
The Ford Foundation has announced that Chuck Robbins, Chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems, has been appointed to its board of trustees. Robbins is also a member of the International Business Council for the World Economic Forum, serving as chair of its immigration committee, and is also a board member at BlackRock. Ford Foundation trustees serve a maximum of two six-year terms and set broad policy relating to grant-making, geographic focus, investments, governance and professional standards.The recently-announced Global Commission on Adaptation has appointed Peter Damgaard Jensen, the CEO of Danish asset manager PKA, as a commissioner. The Commission is convened by 17 countries and has listed 28 commissioners, each representing “all sectors of development and industry”. Jensen is the only investment professional among the commissioners. In its first year, the Commission aims to produce a report on adapting to climate risks which will be presented at the 2019 UNSG Climate Summit.
GES International, a provider of responsible investment and engagement services, has announced a vacancy for a London-based Business Development and Client Manager. The role will be primarily concerned with developing GES’ UK business.
ImpactAssets, a non-profit financial services firm, has announced the appointment of Margret Trilli as President and CIO. Trilli’s 25-year career includes stints at Charles Schwab and Barclays Global Investors (BlackRock), and she is the founder of Intentional Capital, a boutique PE firm for family offices. In her new role, Trilli will “focus on product and business development for the next phase of growth”.
Sustainable Business Australia, a think tank and advocacy group, has appointed Dr John Hewson to chair its board. Hewson specialises in finance and economics and has worked at the Australian Treasury, the Reserve Bank, the IMF and has advised Federal Treasurers and a Prime Minister. Andrew Petersen, CEO of Sustainable Business Australia, said: “Dr Hewson joining Sustainable Business Australia as chair comes at crucial time as questions of corporate accountability and leadership become key community and investor issues”.
Hermann Friedrich Bruhn has been appointed trustee at ClientEarth. Bruhn is Executive Director at German real estate developer Hermann Friedrich Bruhn GmbH & Co KG. His appointment at ClientEarth coincides with the nomination of Hermann Ott to head up the the environmental law firm’s operations in Germany. Ott was most recently Senior Advisor for Global Sustainability and Welfare Strategies at the Berlin office of Wuppertal Institute’s Climate Policy Division.
Steve Balmont has joined BESTrustees, the UK independent trustee firm, as a Trustee Executive. He joins from rival Law Debenture.
Due to unforeseen personal circumstances, Martin Baumann will not take his role as Chair of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), the body that issues the International Standards on Auditing (ISAs). Baumann was Chief Auditor and Director of Professional Standards at the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), and before that CFO for Freddie Mac and a senior partner at PwC. Outgoing Chair Prof. Arnold Schilder, will extend his term through early 2019 until a new Chairperson is appointed.
The £3.6bn F&C Investment Trust (previously Foreign & Colonial) has launched a search for a new Chairman, with Simon Fraser set to bring his nine years in the role to an end in 2019. Fraser is also chairman at UK engagement body The Investor Forum, and was formerly non-executive director at Barclays Bank and CIO at Fidelity International. The search for a new chairman is being led by senior independent director Sir Roger Bone.
Ethical Finance Hub is recruiting a senior executive officer to assume full operational responsibility of the not-for-profit group, including budget and resource management. The 12- month full time contract is based at EFH’s office at Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University.