CCLA Investment Management has expanded its sustainability team with the appointment of a stewardship lead for the environment.
Tessa Younger, who joined CCLA last month, has taken up the role.
She will help contribute to the climate work undertaken by Helen Wildsmith and CCLA’s wider sustainability team.
Younger will lead CCLA’s ‘Better Environment’ work, managing all stewardship on environmental issues, including climate change and nature.
The aim of the project is driving clear improvements at the companies in which CCLA invests.
She will report to James Corah, head of sustainability at CCLA.
Prior to joining CCLA, Younger spent many years at PIRC, an independent corporate governance and shareholder advisory consultancy, where she most recently held the position of head of engagement.
At PIRC, Younger was responsible for developing active ownership strategies for asset owner clients.
She was also in charge of steering engagement with listed corporates, and effecting market-wide change through the promotion of strong policy stances, with a particular focus on climate risk and carbon emissions.
She ran the engagement programme for the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) whose members comprise most of the local authority pension funds in the UK.
During this time, Younger also worked closely with CCLA while collaborating on investor initiatives and campaigns.
This included leading on a ‘Say on Climate’ initiative to encourage FTSE companies to put their climate transition plans to a shareholder vote.
James Corah, head of sustainability at CCLA said: “Tessa’s track record in active ownership and of leading industry coalitions on climate is exemplary and will support us greatly in our ongoing efforts to protect the natural environment and bring investors together to build a better, healthier, natural world.”
This appointment is the latest in a series of senior hires CCLA has made to its sustainability team.
Late last year, CCLA announced the appointment of Dame Sara Thornton (former UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner) as a consultant on modern slavery and Martin Buttle to lead CCLA’s ‘Better Work’ stream focused on ensuring fair and sustainable working conditions.
