Redefining Sustainable Investment Leadership After Senior Transition

When a global asset management firm was managing the retirement of a senior leader within its equity franchise, they reached out to House of Impact for support. The company's sustainable equity franchise was a core pillar of its growth strategy, responsible for delivering strong investment performance and providing clients with exposure to critical sustainability themes across global markets. The leadership gap threatened not only the continuity of investment strategy but also the firm's ability to compete with the world's top sustainable investment teams.

The client's goal was clear: restructure the sustainable equity franchise to ensure it remained at the forefront of the industry. This required a comprehensive assessment of internal talent, benchmarking against leading sustainable investment teams both within major asset management groups and specialist boutiques, and ultimately, securing a cohesive, high-performing team capable of delivering a global, actively managed sustainable equity strategy.

The Challenge: Benchmarking and Building a World-Class Sustainable Equity Team

The asset manager's challenge was twofold. First, they needed to objectively assess their existing team's capabilities and identify any gaps in expertise, investment style, or leadership. Second, they needed to understand how their team compared to the best in the market, both in terms of fund management style and the ability to deliver on sustainability mandates.

This was not a simple talent search. The sustainable investment landscape is highly competitive, with leading teams often embedded in established asset managers or thriving within independent boutiques. The client needed to know:

• How did their team's skills, experience, and track record compare to the market's top performers?
• What were the prevailing fund management styles among leaders in sustainable equities?
• Where could they find individuals or teams with a proven ability to deliver both strong investment returns and authentic sustainability outcomes?
• How could they ensure the new team would be cohesive, innovative, and aligned with the firm's global ambitions?

The goal was to secure a team that could not only maintain but elevate the firm's reputation in sustainable investing, delivering robust performance and authentic ESG integration for clients worldwide.

The House of Impact Approach: Market Mapping, Benchmarking, and Strategic Talent Acquisition

House of Impact delivered a solution that went far beyond traditional executive search. Our process was designed to provide the client with a comprehensive, data-driven view of the sustainable equity talent landscape and to facilitate a strategic acquisition that would transform their capabilities.

1. In-Depth Market Mapping and Team Benchmarking

HOI began by conducting a detailed market mapping exercise. We profiled leading sustainable equity teams across both major asset management groups and specialist boutiques, focusing on:

• Fund management styles such as active versus passive, thematic versus broad-based, and integration of ESG factors
• Track records in delivering both investment performance and sustainability outcomes
• Team structures, leadership dynamics, and cultural fit
• Individual profiles of senior fund managers and rising stars in the sector

This benchmarking process enabled the client to see exactly where their existing team stood relative to the market's best, highlighting both strengths and areas for development.

2. Strategic Engagement with Market Leaders

Armed with this intelligence, HOI facilitated a series of confidential interviews and discussions with leadership teams from independent boutiques and senior fund managers leading high-performing sustainable equity strategies. These conversations were tailored to the client's requirements: a team capable of managing a global, actively managed portfolio with a strong sustainability mandate.

We focused on identifying teams and individuals who not only had a proven track record but also demonstrated a forward-thinking approach to sustainable investing, integrating core sustainability themes across all sectors and geographies.

3. Orchestrating a Transformative Acquisition

Through this process, it became clear that the optimal solution was not a single hire, but the acquisition of a cohesive investment team from a leading boutique. HOI supported the client through every stage of this process, from initial introductions and due diligence to negotiation and integration planning.

Our role extended beyond talent identification. We acted as strategic advisors, ensuring that the acquisition would deliver both immediate investment expertise and long-term cultural alignment.

The Outcome: A Cohesive, High-Performing Sustainable Equity Franchise

The result was a transformative acquisition that significantly increased the client's assets under management within their equities division. By bringing on a cohesive, market-leading investment team, the firm was able to:

• Instantly elevate its sustainable equity capabilities, positioning itself as a leader in global sustainable investing
• Deliver a robust, actively managed global sustainable equity strategy to clients, with exposure to core sustainability themes across all sectors
• Enhance its reputation among institutional clients and consultants as a forward-thinking, impact-driven asset manager
• Foster a culture of innovation and collaboration within the equities division, setting the stage for continued growth and leadership in sustainable finance

This strategic move not only addressed the immediate leadership gap but also positioned the firm for long-term success in a rapidly evolving market.

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If your organization is scaling in the sustainable finance, climate tech, or impact investing space and needs high-impact commercial or technical leaders, House of Impact Talent Solutions is your partner of choice.

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