Solutionists Making Moves: December Edition

Welcome to this week’s edition of Solutionists Making Moves. 

From established ESG professionals to rising Solutionists, we want to share their successes and celebrate the achievements of those leading the charge in bringing net-positive solutions to the world. Here’s this week’s roundup of Solutionists making waves in their respective industries.

Global alternative asset and private equity investor KKR have announced the launch of its Sustainability Expert Advisory Council, a six-member council aimed at expanding ESG expertise and capabilities, and advancing ESG practices and strategy. The council comprises six independent Solutionists across key ESG issues, encompassing climate, diversity, equity, and much more. SEAC will be chaired by Robert Eccles. Eccles said: “I am honored to chair the Sustainability Expert Advisory Council alongside this group of talented and visionary sustainability experts. Cross-disciplinary collaboration is critical to advancing sustainability goals and financial institutions like KKR play a key role in this effort. I look forward to helping KKR as it continues to raise the bar for responsible investing through its thoughtful and rigorous approach to managing ESG issues.”

Lazard Asset Management (LAM) announced recently an expansion of its ESG arm, with the appointment of Monika Kumar as Portfolio Manager. According to LAM, Kumar will work to enhance the company’s growing range of sustainable investing solutions. Nikita Singhal, Co-Head of Sustainable Investment and ESG, LAM, said: “The transition to a more sustainable global economy is creating opportunities and risks for investors. These hires support our goal to integrate these considerations into every strategy at LAM while offering sustainability focused investment solutions.”

Real estate-focused alternative investment platform Slate Asset Management announced this week the appointment of Bozena Jankowska as Managing Director and Global Head of ESG. In her new role, Jankowska will be responsible for leading ESG practices and policy at the firm, aimed at maintaining and promoting performance of Slate’s global investments. Blair Welch, Founding Partner at Slate Asset Management, said: “We understand that having sound ESG practices underpinning our approach to investment and asset management benefits our tenants, our communities and our investors. Bozena’s appointment displays our deep commitment to embedding ESG principles across our business.”

Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) recently announced the appointment of Kurt Morriesen as Head of Investment Stewardship. The appointment comes as increasing investor interest on sustainability, climate, and broader ESG issues are driving investors to become more active in promoting sustainable business practices at companies, resulting in an increasing focus on stewardship and engagement activities. Michelle Scrimgeour, CEO of LGIM said: “As a business, we remain focused on continuing to build our credentials as a responsible investor and to leading the asset management industry in addressing the environmental, governance and social challenges arising from a rapidly changing world.”

Plia Systems have announced the appointment of Anita Karppi as Chief Revenue Officer and Head of ESG. Plia was developed in 2012 to manage due diligence processes and the secure transfer of information between asset managers and their counterparties for risk management purposes. The Plia ESG platform is aimed at helping the financial community crowdsource best practices, benchmarks, and technology to allow investors to adopt ESG into their businesses. “I am delighted to be appointed to this position. Together we have a vision to grow the business to help the investment community,” said Karppi. “The ESG initiative aligns with my passions, and I am excited to be spearheading a product that will help the industry engage on these challenges.”