Manulife Investment Management has appointed Peter Mennie as Global Head of ESG Research and Integration effective immediately. Mennie will report to Christopher Conkey, Global Head of Public Markets, Manulife Investment Management.
Based in London, Mennie has been with Manulife Investment Management for more than 20 years, most recently as Global Head of Investment Risk Management and Quantitative Analytics. Mennie hired and led the ESG team from 2014 – 2016 which subsequently reported into him. Manulife Investment Management’s ESG capabilities continued to develop and expand under his guidance and he will now be directly leading the team again. In addition to his responsibilities as Head of ESG Research and Integration, he will also continue in his former role.
To support Mennie in this expanded position, Amirali Assef, has been appointed Deputy Head of Investment Risk. Assef was previously Managing Director, Investment Risk, and has been with the firm since 2011. The additional changes to the ESG Research and Integration team which have been implemented to support the position are outlined below.
Manulife Investment Management’s approach to sustainable investing combines a macro perspective on ESG risks, opportunities and imperatives with the depth of local market expertise. As a global asset manager with strong regional footprints, it has perspective on navigating sustainability’s systemic challenges and opportunities, which helps to develop and synthesise innovative global frameworks for sustainability analysis and asset management that work in the local context. Manulife Investment Management recognises that sustainability is integral to business in a world that is rapidly changing and is dedicated to sustainable investing to help clients achieve their goals and those of their stakeholders.
“ESG continues to redefine the asset management industry. Manulife Investment Management is firmly committed to collaborative ESG integration across our portfolios, creating differentiated opportunities for investors in global markets,” says Conkey. “I am truly pleased to have Peter, once again, leading this practice for us and am confident he and the team will continue to establish Manulife as an industry leader in the ESG space.”
The following changes have been made to the Global ESG Research and Integration team:
• Eric Nietsch, previously Director, ESG Integration and Research, Asia has been promoted to Head of ESG, Asia. Nietsch joined the firm in 2019 and has been conducting proprietary research to assess the investment risks and opportunities related to the sustainability strategies of companies in the region. Nietsch also works with Manulife Investment Management’s sales and product teams on ESG strategy and marketing has 10 years of experience in investment in both ESG and credit. He is based in Singapore and will report directly to Mennie. Tim Chan, Senior Analyst, Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance Research & Integration will continue in his role and support the region’s activity from Hong Kong.
• Margaret Childe, previously Director, ESG Integration and Research, Canada, has been promoted to Head of ESG for Canada. Childe joined the firm in 2017 to work with Manulife Investment Management’s Canada-based investment teams on ESG integration. She also works on global ESG integration projects and methodologies for ESG product development. Childe brings over 15 years of experience to the role, starting in capital markets before specialising in sustainable investing over the last eight years. She is based in Toronto and will report directly to Mennie.
• In the US, the team benefits from a depth of expertise and Pete Dervan, Frederick W Isleib, CFA, and Hideki Suzuki will continue in their roles as Directors, ESG Research and Integration. Dervan is responsible for the advancement and oversight of the firm’s active ownership practices in public markets, Isleib works directly with U.S.-based portfolio managers and is responsible for ESG integration in some of the firm’s largest equities and fixed income strategies (by AUM), and Suzuki is responsible for engagement with Japanese companies and leading ESG data methodology and analytics development projects. This Boston-based team will report to Mennie.
“Over the past six years, the ESG Research and Integration team has done tremendous work to collaborate with portfolio teams and investors to successfully integrate ESG factors into investment analysis,” says Mennie. “My goal is to continue to build on this success as we endeavour to invest responsibly for our clients’ futures.”
