Voya appoints head of ESG research – Pensions & Investments

Voya appoints head of ESG research  Pensions & InvestmentsVoya appoints head of ESG research  Pensions & InvestmentsVoya appoints head of ESG research  Pensions & Investments

Voya Investment Management has hired Laura Kane as the head of environmental, socio and governance research. This is a new role at the firm. Kane began her new job Monday, according to Kristopher Kagel, a spokesperson. According to a news release, Kane reports to Jim Dorment (Voya’s cohead of fundamental research, head of value equity), as well as overseeing and building out an ESG-focused team of analysts to help Voya analysts and portfolio managers “understand and consider ESG factors in their investment processes.” In the release, Mr. Dorment stated that “our objective is to systematically compare environmental, social, and governance factors for all companies in which we invest” and to consider how these factors might affect a company’s long-term performance by addressing new risks and opportunities. “Laura brings a wealth expertise in this area. This expertise, along with the work we have already done, means that we are well-positioned to integrate ESG in our investment process across all asset classes. Kane was previously the U.S. head for thematic research at UBS Wealth Management. UBS Wealth Management’s U.S. head of thematic research, Kane was also responsible for the launch of more then 20 sustainable investment themes. Voya also collaborated with UBS Asset Management in “developing an innovative separately managed account strategy that reflects wealth Management themes and incorporates ESG considerations,” Voya stated in the release.

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