Acre launches sustainable finance division in the EU 

14 January 2022 by Grace Coleman
blog author

​A surge in sustainable finance is expected this year. As the world starts to pick itself up from the disruption of the pandemic to refocus on the future, the climate-conscious corporations will sharpen their attention to ensure sustainability takes centre stage once again. 

According to research on global corporate sustainability, conducted by Nielson, 66 per cent of respondents are willing to pay more for products and services, provided the products come from sustainable businesses. This reiterates the notion that sustainability is vital to the survival of companies as they claw their way back from the challenges of the previous two years. 

Sustainable finance plays a key role in helping create a better future, by improving environmental and social issues via financial sector funding. Sustainable development can add value to a company if operations are aligned with the environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, which form the basis of investment decisions. It demonstrates good intention - that a firm is making a serious effort to mitigate the negative impact it acknowledges it may have generated. 

Acre has created an impact by leading the market in sustainable finance search, recruitment and talent development since 2003. 

The recruitment consultancy, which operates globally in London, New York, Amsterdam and soon in Singapore, has conducted pioneering work to establish and hone the largest global recruitment network for sustainable finance professionals. 

Through skilful execution, Acre provides financial institutions and investors worldwide with access to the most established network of talent to help support the transition to a sustainable economy. 

Acre’s experienced sustainable finance team have developed and finely tuned their expertise which has resulted in the completion of more than 200 searches since 2017. Having already established a strong presence in Europe, Acre is proud to have ensembled an ambitious sustainable finance team within its Amsterdam operations, which includes Dulce Flores and Karen Steeman. 

The dynamic duo joined the sustainable finance team at an exciting time, as the Amsterdam office celebrates its second birthday this week. 

Dulce focuses on supporting private equity firms, growth and venture groups, real asset managers and infrastructure funds. She helps integrate and push forward their agenda on sustainable development, ESG and impact investing.   

With a strong record of successful placements at Acre across energy innovation, cleantech and carbon finance sectors, Dulce has significant experience in global talent mapping, headhunting and candidate engagement. She holds a BA in Business and a master’s degree in Project Management.  

Alongside Dulce is Karen, who focuses on placing Senior and Executive level sustainability professionals into banks, insurance companies and investment management firms. She helps them to develop impactful teams and drive cultural and environmental change, sustainable development, ESG and impact investing.   

Prior to joining the Acre team, Karen worked in the Financial Services industry (KBC Bank and Fortis Bank) in London for 10 years. After relocating to Singapore, she started her career in executive search, focusing on senior Legal and Financial positions. Karen moved back to Holland in 2016 as a senior consultant in a boutique recruitment consultancy firm, working with a number of prestigious clients in the Netherlands, with the main focus on Senior HR positions. 

Karen has significant experience in executive search, advisory and leadership assessment. She holds a master’s degree in Employment Law from the University of Rotterdam.  

Karen said: “I am honoured to join Acre at such an exciting time with the company growing so quickly in such a relevant growth market. I’m looking forward to making an impact in the European Sustainable Finance market and to be playing my part towards a more sustainable future by connecting organisations and individuals to purposeful and impactful roles.” 

Ian Povey-Hall, Global Head of Sustainable Finance and Impact Investing said:“With a long history of recruiting for sustainable finance and impact investing roles across Europe from London, it’s fantastic that we now have two great new additions to the team in Karen and Dulce to build on those foundations from our Amsterdam office.” 

If you would like more information or are keen to raise a discussion about how Acre can support your sustainable finance requirements in the EU, please do not hesitate to contact either Dulce Flores via dulce.flores@acre.com or Karen Steeman via karen.steeman@acre.com