AXA Investment Managers has created two new teams for ESG research and governance to help unify its approach to responsible investing across its business units.
From 1 March 2021 Virginie Derue will oversee a team responsible for thematic research on climate, biodiversity, human capital and diversity as well as health, and make sure this research can be applied to investment decisions.
Clémence Humeau’s team will be responsible for transversal responsible investment projects and corporate governance including voting policy on these themes, Covid-19 and public health, as well as data privacy. Both report to Gilles Moëc, head of research at AXA IM and AXA Group chief economist.
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The creation of these teams is intended to ensure responsible investment is embraced by all teams that perform responsible investment-related activities, such as AXA IM Alts and AXA IM Core. It will also help to support AXA IM’s goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 across all assets under management.
“This evolution completes the incorporation of all responsible investment activities into the standard investment, reporting, oversight and control processes of AXA IM, with AXA IM Alts and AXA IM Core being accountable for leading the way,” said Marco Morelli, executive chair of AXA IM.
“We are convinced that embedding responsible investment activities within our investment platforms while benefiting from strong industry experts to showcase our leadership in research and active ownership is a winning combination to further accelerate on responsible investment.”
In 2019 AXA IM committed to integrating ESG factors across its open-ended fund range and to provide its clients with reporting on ESG scoring and the carbon footprint for the vast majority of its funds.
Responsible investment activities relating to modelling, quantitative simulation, portfolio integration and investment oversight remain part of AXA IM’s Quant Lab, headed by Laurent Clavel.
