Loomis, Sayles & Company announced that Colleen Denzler, CFA, has been named the firm’s head of ESG. Colleen, who is based in Boston, will report to David Waldman, chief investment officer.
As head of ESG, Colleen will advance the firm’s ESG initiatives, support sustainability efforts.
She will work across the entire firm to refine ESG priorities, goals, metrics and criteria, as well as maintaining alignment with the ever-evolving regulatory requirements for ESG.
In addition, she will partner with investment teams to identify how ESG considerations may be further incorporated into their investment processes and to determine areas of engagement with companies in which they invest and collaborate with various industry groups to foster best investment management practices; and
She will communicate Loomis Sayles’ approach to sustainability and ESG to clients and stakeholders.
In addition, Colleen will oversee the existing firm-wide ESG committee structure to provide strategic support to Loomis Sayles’ investment teams, conduct internal education and serve as a thought leader on material sustainability issues.
“Prioritizing ESG and sustainability – which meaningfully impact the global economy, the financial markets and society at large – is a matter of fiduciary responsibility and good stewardship of clients’ capital,” said Kevin Charleston, chief executive officer.
“Good governance and sustainable business practices are inherent factors in our decision-making as long-term investors who seek to deliver superior long-term, risk-adjusted returns to our clients,” said David Waldman, chief investment officer.
“Colleen’s extensive background will be an asset as we strive to leverage ESG insights and data in our investment processes and to design products consistent with clients’ ESG objectives,” Waldman adds.
Over her more than 35 years in the asset management industry, Colleen has held a number of investment and ESG leadership roles. She began her career at Calvert Asset Management, an early leader in responsible investing, where she was an ESG portfolio manager and analyst. Colleen went on to leadership roles at Janus Henderson, where she was Global Head of Fixed Income Strategy, and American Century Investments, where she was a senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Money Markets.
She then served as Chief Investment Officer of First Affirmative Financial Network, a sustainable investment focused RIA, and president of its industry-leading SRI Conference. Colleen later leveraged her expertise as a strategic advisor to asset managers on ESG and sustainable investing. Most recently, Colleen led ESG integration efforts at Smith Capital Investors.