Flexstone Partners, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, has appointed Caroline Gibert as Head of ESG to further enhance its sustainability approach. In this newly created role, Gibert will lead Flexstone Partners’ ESG strategy at both a firm and portfolio level, responsible for strategy, policies, data collection, reporting, and processes.
In a press release, the asset manager explained that they follow an inclusive approach with a diverse and value-driven team dedicated to tackling social, environmental and governance issues. “In 2020, we worked on a concrete approach to reinforce our ESG engagement and new thinking on how to use responsible investment to benefit both our clients and company as a whole”, commented Gibert.
Flexstone Partners employees has selected four Sustainable Development Goals in order to guide its role as a “citizen firm”. Above all, its aim is to continue contributing to the protection of the environment (goal 13); promote social equality and opportunity (goals 4 & 5); and enhance diversity and inclusion (goal 8).
The firm has also reshaped its proprietary ESG analytical and reporting tools to implement an active approach throughout its investment process. “Our mission is to deliver attractive risk adjusted long term performance to our clients. The objective of ESG integration is to enrich our mission by making sure all portfolio managers and underlying companies are well-placed to develop a sustainable business model”, said Eric Deram, Managing Partner at Flexstone.
Gibert will be supported by a working group with interdisciplinary responsibilities to ensure a consistent ESG integration across the firm. They have set three concrete objectives have been set: to produce dedicated ESG reports to each client and a Global ESG report; to reach a target for women to represent 40% of the investment teams by 2030; and to become a neutral carbon company by 2050. “We will also work actively and take part in initiatives in the investment industry to drive changes and find new ways of investing capital”, concludes Gibert.
The asset manager highlighted that the appointment is a new step in its “ESG journey”. Giber’s new function will come in addition to her current role of head of investor relations and business development, working hand in hand with Flexstone’s clients to adapt dedicated ESG reports to their own values and guidelines.
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