Sustainalytics hires ex-Norges Bank analyst Dujardin for Singapore research role

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) research firm Sustainalytics has hired former Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) senior analyst Loic Dujardin as a director of its research team in Singapore.

NBIM is the arm of the Norwegian central bank which oversees the giant NOK4.1trn (€546bn) Government Pension Fund.

Dujardin, who joins Sustainalytics on May 1, specialises in water risks – one of NBIM’s six strategic focus areas.

The appointment follows the departure in October last year of Benjamin McCarron, Director, Asia at the firm. McCarron had joined Sustainalytics as part of its acquisition of Responsible Research, the Singapore-based ESG firm where he was Head of Research.Last month the company, which is backed by Dutch institutions PGGM, ABN Amro and Triodos, declined to comment on a report that it is in talks to merge with South Korea-based partner firm Sustinvest.
“Loic’s extensive work on ESG issues, specifically with respect to water-related ESG risks, will be highly valued by our clients globally,” said Hans-Ulrich Beck, Sustainalytics’ global director of research products.

Sustainalytics has also hired a senior manager in Toronto to service its global clients. Max Zehrt was most recently manager of the Responsible Investing Group at the OPSEU Pension Trust, the C$13.3bn (€10bn) Ontario pension government pension fund. Before that he was with TD Asset Management.