Last Word Media is delighted to announce it will be further enhancing its ESG coverage with the launch of a specialist global taskforce to ensure its audience of professional investors around the world are receiving the highest quality news, analysis and events in the evolving responsible investment landscape.
Over the past year, Last Word, part of the Bonhill Group, has completely reinvigorated its ESG Clarity brand, employing more journalists and creating a more streamlined website, video interviews and multiple interactive social media initiatives as well as the launch of a quarterly digital magazine.
The brand has also been rolled out into Asia and the US, with support from Bonhill and Last Word titles Fund Selector Asia and InvestmentNews, while the highly successful ESG Pathway event series provided much-needed educational information for financial advisers looking to build their own ESG expertise.
A study by Last Word Research, Competing in an ESG World, recently indicated almost two-thirds of professional investors worldwide now incorporate ESG factors within their fund selection process while, according to data company Morningstar, assets under management across global ESG funds recently surpassed $1.7trn.
In order to take the next step and ensure our audience are at the forefront of ESG integration, Last Word Media has created the Global ESG Taskforce to develop and enhance the ESG Clarity brand across the world with multi-media content, research, and events to really connect with our clients and readers and meet their changing needs.
In collaboration with Last Word Research, ESG Clarity has also brought to life its own fund ratings guide, the Responsible Ratings Index (RRI), which is now set to be rolled out in the US and Asia, as well as ESG ‘MOTs’ for asset managers wishing to see how their investment solutions stack up against their peers.
As part of this next step, Natalie Kenway, editor of ESG Clarity, has been promoted to global head of ESG insight while Patrick Ponsford, managing director, will be leading the Global ESG Taskforce.
Over the next few months, ESG Clarity will be unveiling its first ever podcast – initially for UK and European audiences, before rolling out to the US – featuring conversations with ESG investment professionals, academics looking at solutions for a sustainable economy and scientists researching climate change, biodiversity and other key environmental topics.
See also: – Podcast: Introducing ESG Out Loud
Furthermore, ESG Clarity UK and Europe will be launching its educational academy ESG Intelligence in the first quarter of 2021, with CPD accreditation, and accompanying series of roundtables, and is also embarking on a virtual event series in collaboration with sister title Portfolio Adviser.
The ESG Clarity digital magazine, which has its own interactive contents page with video interviews, is moving to a bi-monthly basis and Last Word Research will also be carrying out research with readers in all regions to ensure we are on top of the key topics to assist them in their work practices and processes.
We will also continue to work with the United Nations on content and videos as we countdown to COP26 in Glasgow this November.
Patrick Ponsford said: “Last Word Media is very excited about this next phase of growth and working on a truly global level with our colleagues across the world at what is still a relatively early stage of the investment industry’s ESG adoption and integration.”
