EdenTree Investment Management has appointed Jupiter veteran Charlie Thomas as its new chief investment officer.
The responsible and sustainable investment manager said Mr Thomas, who will join in Q2 of this year, would be tasked with ensuring EdenTree maintains its position in an “exciting and rapidly evolving” market.
It follows the news announced earlier today (January 20) that Mr Thomas, previously head of strategy, environment and sustainability at Jupiter, is to leave the giant asset manager after 20 years at the company and 17 years at the helm of the Jupiter Ecology fund.
Andy Clark, chief executive of EdenTree, said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Charlie to EdenTree at this incredibly exciting time for the business and for the industry.
“Charlie was one of the few industry figures that could bring such a high level of expertise and experience to a business that has led the responsible and sustainable investment market for more than 30 years under Sue Round’s guidance.
“We are committed to delivering excellence to our clients and Charlie further strengthens our ability to do that.”
Mr Thomas will take over from Ms Round, who has been acting-CIO alongside her primary role as deputy chairman since Robin Helpworth, former CIO, left the firm last year.
Ms Round will remain with the business and continue in her role as deputy chairman.
EdenTree said one of Mr Thomas’s first responsibilities was to invigorate the firm’s product range and prepare for its next phase of growth, as it looks to expand its influence in the responsible and sustainable investment space.
Mr Thomas brings more than two decades of investment management experience to the firm, having overseen strong asset growth for the Jupiter environmental and responsible investment range during his tenure.
ESG investing has boomed in popularity in recent years as fears over climate change have led investors to consider the impact of their money and as a growing number of millennials have begun investing.
2020 saw a record year for ESG inflows, and fund houses have been quick to capitalise on the growing interest with numerous portfolio launches and growing their sustainable offering.
imogen.tew@ft.com
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