Lombard Odier Investment Managers has hired a chief nature officer to develop the firm’s recently launched dedicated sustainable investment platform, holistiQ Investment Partners.
Dr. Marc Palahí, who is an expert on forests, circular bioeconomy and global change, will work on the nature strategy within the platform, as well as integrating nature considerations across the firm.
He joins from the European Forest Institute, where he worked since 2007 and where he was the director since 2015. In this role, Palahí was responsible for driving the Institute’s development as a pan-European science-policy platform and working to connect knowledge to action at the interface of science, policy and business. He holds a PhD in forestry and economics and has authored and contributed to more than 40 scientific publications over the course of his career.
“For the past 20 years I have been working to better understand the large societal challenges we are facing as well as the potential solutions that nature, science and technology can offer to address them,” Palahí said.
“It is paramount that in the next decade we need to facilitate an unprecedented economic transformation if we want to place our world on a sustainable path. The good news is that we have the knowledge to do it but need to deploy capital at the right scale in the right solutions.
“My ambition is to contribute to Lombard Odier’s long-term sustainable commitment by placing nature and nature-based solutions at the centre of the global investment agenda.”
Jean-Pascal Porcherot, co-head of LOIM and managing partner of Lombard Odier, added: “Marc’s extensive academic experience across nature, forests and the emerging circular bioeconomy industries will be instrumental as holistiQ develops leading nature-based investment products that seek environmental outcomes and compelling returns for clients.”
Palahí joined on 1 June 2023 and is based in London. In addition to his role within holistiQ, Palahí will continue to lead the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance on a secondment basis.
