The asset manager is deepening its commitment to driving sustainability across Asia Pacific, as sustainable investing gains momentum in the region.
Led by Danielle Welsh-Rose, ESG Investment Director – Asia Pacific, Aberdeen Standard Investments' (ASI) new Sustainability Institute will bring together experienced ESG experts from its Asia Pacific business to drive sustainability outcomes for investors, the firm announced on Wednesday.
The firm said this initiative reinforces its mission «to enable its clients to be better investors, by driving sustainable investing and supporting the buildout of a resilient Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ecosystem in Asia Pacific.»
Asia Focus
ASI will also be able to develop more best-practice sustainability training and education for investors and distributors, deliver deeper Asia-centric ESG insights and utilise APAC-based resources to build a wider array of innovative sustainable investment solutions for its clients.
«Asia is still far behind the rest of the world in deploying sustainable investment strategies, but is moving fast to catch up with client demand. Capitalising on our deep global and Asian ESG expertise, there is an opportunity for us to drive positive changes in the industry,» said APAC CEO René Buehlmann, who will also chair the Sustainable Investment Advisory Board.
More ESG Headcount
The institute will comprise ESG investment professionals across asset classes and sustainability specialists from various business functions, including regulation, product development, distribution and corporate sustainability.
ASI currently has five dedicated ESG experts based in Singapore and Australia, but the firm will also add ESG-dedicated headcounts as part of its strategy to deepen its APAC sustainability capabilities, ASI said.
