UBS is bulking up its sustainable money management with several key hires, finews.asia has learned.
Ex-RobecoSAM boss Michael Baldinger only joined UBS last year, but he has already poached three former colleagues to join him, according to a memorandum seen by finews.asia.
«Through the efforts of teams across the firm, asset management's sustainable investment assets have reached an all-time high,» Baldinger wrote to staff.
The newly-minted boss of sustainable and impact investing at Switzerland's largest bank is hiring Francis Condon, effective immediately and based in Amsterdam.
Poached from Rival
He will be part of a research team led by Christopher Greenwald, who joined earlier this year. Both Condon and Greenwald were poached from RobecoSam, a key industry player in the niche investment area.
In addition, Valeria Piani will join from the Principles for Responsible Investment, a United Nations initiative set up to promote sustainable finance. She joined the Swiss bank on Monday and will be based in London.
UBS is also hiring Emiliano Torracca, who currently works for the Church of England's investment arm. He joins the Swiss bank in January as a proxy voting analyst.
Key U.S. Hire
Baldinger is also bolstering a team led in Zurich by Martijn Oosterwoud, another RobecoSAM hire from earlier this year. UBS private banker Karsten Guettler will join the sustainable investment arm in January. He is to represent the Swiss bank's sustainable investment acumen to clients and prospective ones, and develop new strategies.
In New York UBS has hired Amy Farrell, who has worked as an independent consultant for asset managers looking to integrate environmental, social and governance topics for the last six years. Farrell's experience selling sustainable investments as well as strong knowledge in the U.S. market will be key, Baldinger said.
