Jupiter has restructured its sustainability offering, promoting Abbie Llewellyn-Waters, manager of the Jupiter Global Sustainable Equities Fund and ESG Clarity editorial panellist, as head of sustainable investing, while Edward Bonham Carter, has taken on a new role focusing on the company’s stewardship and corporate responsibility activities.
In her new position, Llewellyn-Waters will be responsible for leading Jupiter’s sustainable investing capability, while continuing in her role as manager of the global sustainable equity strategy. In a statement, the group said her work will feed into Bonham-Carter’s new responsibilities in shaping best practice across the business and ensuring a commitment to ESG as fundamental to its investment and corporate culture.
Meanwhile, Charlie Thomas, formerly head of strategy, environment and sustainability, is to leave Jupiter for a new post after 20 years at the company, including 17 years at the helm of the Jupiter Ecology Fund.
As a result, Jon Wallace has been appointed fund manager of Jupiter Ecology, Jupiter Responsible Income funds and the equity segment of Jupiter Global Ecology Diversified, which Jupiter said was “a natural next step in the succession plan for this important strategy”.
Furthermore, Wallace has stepped up to become manager of the Jupiter Green Investment Trust after previously working with Thomas on the investment company. Jupiter’s statement said Wallace has “strong expertise in seeking out the key innovators in the green technology space”, making him the natural successor for this range. He will collaborate closely with Thomas to ensure a smooth transition of fund management responsibilities.
In other promotions, Rhys Petheram is taking on the new role of head of environmental solutions, working closely with Llewellyn-Waters to evolve Jupiter’s expertise in investing in companies providing solutions to sustainability challenges across key environmental themes.
Andrew Formica, Jupiter CEO, commented: “Drawing on Jupiter’s 30-year heritage of sustainable investing, this restructure and the series of appointments announced today reinforce our commitment to this strategically important client proposition which we see as a cornerstone of our future business growth plans. We are pleased to be able to offer our clients a distinct choice of products, enabling them to achieve their sustainable investing goals in partnership with our dedicated and experienced team.
“I’m delighted to have Abbie and Rhys in these new roles where they will be instrumental in shaping, supporting and influencing the firmwide initiatives that we have been developing over the last year.”
The group also said analysts Freddie Woolfe and Mark Evans will retain their focus on global sustainable equities, and the group is looking to add further resource to the environmental solutions team over time. The team will also continue to receive input from Jupiter’s governance and sustainability research team, headed by Ashish Ray.
CIO at the firm Stephen Pearson added: “We would like to congratulate Abbie and Rhys on their new roles, created to drive forward our sustainability proposition. Their knowledge and experience coupled with their passion for driving sustainable and enduring change on behalf of our clients will see us continue to innovate and lead the industry in this important area.
“We are also delighted to make Jon’s well-deserved promotion. Jon has been with the company since 2009 and has shown himself to be an innovative, inquisitive stock picker through his company research and analysis. He has worked closely with Charlie for many years on the Jupiter Ecology Fund and becomes only the fourth manager to take on this role in its 32-year life. We are confident that his appointment will ensure a seamless transition of management responsibility for clients in this important fund.
“At the same time, I would also like to pay tribute to departing manager Charlie Thomas. Having taken on the management of the Jupiter Ecology Fund nearly 20 years ago, Charlie has become an important part of that fund’s long history and has made a strong mark at Jupiter and on the sector during his tenure. He has been a pleasure to work with and he leaves with our thanks for the valuable contribution he has made and our best wishes for the future.”
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