Premier Asset Management has roped in former director and policy and research head at the UN supported Principles for Responsible Investment Helene Winch (pictured) to ensure ESG considerations factor into its investment process firm-wide.
Winch will become head of responsible investing when she joins the asset manager in September.
In this newly created role, she will oversee Premier’s responsible investing strategy and development, including bringing in ESG factors into its investment philosophy and process. She will also be working closely with the investment team of the £167m Premier Ethical Fund.
Winch has over 20 years’ industry experience and has served as the head of policy at both the PRI and the BT Pension Scheme. Most recently she worked for HSBC Global Asset Management as a senior responsible investment adviser in the fixed income team.
She holds an MA Honours in Engineering Science from Cambridge University and an MSc in Maths & Finance from Imperial College.
Premier CIO Neil Birrell said: “We are delighted Helene Winch is joining us as head of responsible investing. The asset management industry is at an important point in embracing environmental, social and governance criteria as a core part of how it operates and invests on behalf of clients. Premier believes that asset management firms have a key role to play in harnessing their clients’ assets to create a more sustainable economy and society.”
Premier currently has £6.8bn in assets under management.
