Acre is proud to partner with Sarasin & Partners LLP to appoint an Ownership Lead, an exciting newly created position building on the firm's long held belief that investment has the power to grow and protect wealth in a way that benefits society.
Sarasin & Partners (Sarasin) is a specialist global investment manager, investing thematically and sustainably on behalf of charities, private clients, institutions and investment professionals.
Sarasin takes a long-term approach, identifying powerful trends that will shape the investment landscape for years to come. Because they believe responsible companies will tend to create longer lasting returns, stewardship is embedded into Sarasin's investment process. ESG factors are integrated into their fundamental analysis.
An exciting time to join Sarasin and play a pivotal role in the next stage in the development of Sarasin's long-held stewardship commitment and activity as a progressive and responsible investor.
As the Ownership Lead, this is an opportunity to play a key role in developing a market-leading and demonstrably impactful ownership service for clients and society.
Responsibilities
Working closely with the Head of Stewardship and wider investment team across listed equity, fixed income and alternatives, the Ownership Lead is responsible for helping to implement the engagement and voting strategy (Sarasin's "Ownership Discipline") and steering its development to maintain Sarasin's leadership in stewardship
Leading social and governance related ownership activities with a focus on delivering impacts e.g. identified changes in corporate behaviour
Overseeing and driving the implementation of company specific engagement plans (working at both Board and senior executive level
Overseeing and evolving of Sarasin's voting policy to ensure consistency with ESG expectations
Representing the firm in public policy engagements, client outreach or external conferences/seminars
Enhancing monitoring and reporting of Ownership impact and voting activity, including contributing to client communications and external marketing material
Lead on key external reporting, including UK Stewardship Code and annual UNPRI survey
Skills and experience sought
Proven leadership, persuasion and negotiation skills for interfacing with senior executives and board level directors
Strong 'ownership' mindset with the ability to challenge senior executives/directors with the goal of improving business performance through social or corporate governance factors
A track record in company engagement, with examples of escalations and associated impacts
Knowledge of corporate governance best practice and stewardship code requirements in UK, EU and elsewhere
Experience of voting platforms, e.g. ISS, helpful
Experience in investment and/or finance qualification a bonus
We encourage applications from a wide variety of possible backgrounds, from professionals with sustainability consulting experience through to fund managers or investment analysts from within capital markets. The key to success is the passion and ability to drive company performance and economic change, through company engagement on social and corporate governance factors.
Contact
Acre is managing the candidate selection and application process on behalf of Sarasin & Partners LLP.
Helen Pradas-Page, Head of ESG & Responsible Investment, is leading this search.
Andrew Mullins will be your contact for the initial stages of engagement and shortlisting.
