Redwheel has tapped Abrdn’s Stephanie Kelly to head up its thematic sustainability research.
In the newly created role, Kelly (pictured) will build and lead a team of research specialists that will serve as a centralised resource for Redwheel’s investment teams. She will also support Redwheel’s specialist sustainability strategies and funds trying to align better with sustainable themes.
Redwheel, formerly known as RWC, has been on a hiring spree to bolster its ESG capabilities. In January 2021, it poached Columbia Threadneedle’s Chris Anker to become its head of sustainability, who has since made several recruits, including Somerset Capital’s Olivia Seddon-Daines.
Anker’s team will continue to focus primarily on policy and oversight and strategic implementation of sustainability across the wider business. He and Kelly will report to Arthur Grigoryants, head of investment strategy and a member of Redwheel’s executive committee.
Commenting on Kelly’s appointment Grigoryants said: “Stephanie’s knowledge and track record in macro ESG research will be a key ingredient as we build out our sustainable offering. The appointment is a reflection of the opportunities we see to enhance both the quality and breadth of our sustainability activities and develop our approach to collaboration.”
Kelly was previously the deputy head of Abrdn’s research institute and was responsible for integrating and applying ESG research across the business. Prior to this she was a political economist at Standard Life Investments where she built proprietary risk analysis frameworks for investment and policy decisions.
