Former Landsec director Ed Dixon has joined Aviva Investors in the newly created role of ESG head for real assets.
Dixon, who is a graduate of the sustainability programme at Harvard, will be responsible for the ESG division at Aviva Investors’ £45bn real assets platform, encompassing real estate, infrastructure and private debt.
Working closely with colleagues across the platform and the global responsible investment team, Dixon will lead the firm’s ESG strategy in real assets across investment, development and asset management.
With over 17 years’ industry experience, Dixon was most recently director of sustainability insights at property firm Landsec, where he was responsible for sustainable design, climate risk and supply chain transparency.
He joined Landsec in January 2016, leading integration of the company’s sustainability strategy through a £3.6bn development pipeline as well as the strategy, research and governance functions.
His career also includes roles at Mace, Marks and Spencer’s and Simons Group.
“I’m delighted we have been able to attract someone with Ed’s track record and expertise to the team,” Melanie Collett, head of asset management, real estate at Aviva Investors, said.
“He brings a wealth of ESG experience from development, consulting and contracting companies throughout the real estate sector, and will further enhance our capabilities in an area that is of growing importance to our investors and occupiers,” Collett added.
Aviva Investors, which has around £346bn of assets under management as of 30 June 2019, has been increasingly vocal about ESG issues.
Earlier this year it became one of 22 investors to join the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) Global Investor Collaboration, which strives to encourage food producers, retailers, wholesalers, restaurants and bars to improve their supply chain knowledge and performance reporting on farm animal welfare.
