Andy is a member of the investment team and is focused on investment manager selection and monitoring. He also leads SJP’s Stewardship activity. Prior to joining SJP in 2024 Andy was Head of ESG Investment Directors at Aviva Investors. Before this he held positions in investment management and equity research at firms including Standard Life Investments, JP Morgan Cazenove and Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Andy graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2002 and is a CFA Charterholder. He also holds the Professional Risk Manager designation, the Global Association of Risk Professionals Sustainability and Climate Risk Certificate, the Cambridge Sustainable Finance Certificate and the CFA ESG Certificate.

Why is corporate culture becoming more important to you when deciding who you allocate assets to?

Research shows that corporate culture can be a key determinant of company performance. Some of our investment managers use alternative data sources to gauge how happy employees are, identify the existence of glass ceilings and examine other aspects of corporate culture at potential investee entities. They see clear linkages, which hold in the financial sector. We want to make sure we are allocating mandates to investment managers that have a strong and inclusive culture that enables their employees to focus on getting the best possible outcomes for our clients.

In your view, why is it important to set a higher standard of stewardship and behaviour within the investment industry?

A positive work environment can make a huge difference to employees’ lives. This has a knock-on effect to how effectively those employees contribute to good consumer outcomes. If the investment industry walks the talk and demands high standards of itself, it enables more productive engagement with investee companies. This should in turn improve the performance of these businesses, benefitting everyone.

Why did you decide to sit on the ACT Stewardship Council, and what does it mean to you personally?

I was delighted to be asked to sit on the Stewardship Council. It is an honour to work with the other committee members in shaping the future of the investment industry.