Investment firm bolsters ESG research with new global head

New appointment will make a further push towards responsible investing

Manulife Asset Management has found its new global head of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) research and integration in Emily Chew, the firm announced in an Oct. 3 statement. Based in Hong Kong, Ms. Chew reports to Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Investment Risk and Quantitative Analytics Peter Mennie. Her appointment took effect on September 2.

"In this new role for our firm, Emily will serve as the primary lead on ESG. She will engage with companies in which we are invested to discuss ESG issues, report on conclusions to portfolio managers, and articulate our approach to ESG with clients," said Mr. Mennie. "In addition, she will be responsible for oversight of ESG research globally, setting strategic direction for Manulife Asset Management."

The position was bestowed upon Ms. Chew after Manulife Asset Management became a signatory to the UN-sponsored Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2015. The appointment also follows the hiring of the ESG Analyst for North America Frederick Isleib, who collaborates with portfolio management teams to identify ESG risks and produces thought leadership on ESG trends. Mr. Isleib reports to Ms. Chew.

Ms. Chew’s most recent previous role was a stint as head of ESG research for Asia-Pacific at MSCI Inc. Her team oversaw research quality and issue identification for some 1,200 stocks, and produced original research on the significance of ESG for Asian and emerging markets. Before that, she was a capital markets lawyer with Australian firm Baker & McKenzie, where she focused on funds management, capital raisings, and REITs.

A member of PRI’s Listed Equities Outreach Subcommittee, Ms. Chew also has an MBA from the University of Oxford, and a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne.


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