The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) has replaced outgoing CEO Fiona Reynolds with another industry leader from the Australian pensions industry, David Atkin.
Reynolds is stepping down at the end of 2021 to return to family in Australia and has committed to roles as CEO at Conexes Financial and founding member of the PwC Australia ESG Advisory Group. She has spent nearly a decade at the PRI increasing signatories from 1,000 to over 4,000.
The new CEO Atkin will join PRI in an advisory role on 15 November 2021 and take over the chief executive reins on 10 December.
He previously served as CEO of three Australian asset owners: Cbus, ESS Super and JUST SUPER and most recently as deputy CEO of investment manager AMP Capital. Additionally, he has experience with the PRI having previously served as a PRI board director between 2009 and 2015.
Martin Skancke, PRI chair, commented: “After an extensive global search, PRI is very pleased to appoint David Atkin as CEO. David is a passionate and authentic leader with a deep understanding of mission-driven organisations, and a highly experienced and effective manager. David brings a strong understanding of the needs of PRI’s signatories to the organisation, with a sophisticated knowledge of the priorities and management of asset owners gained from his time in the investment industry.
“He is ideally suited to lead PRI at a time of continued growth in its presence and membership around the world, which has been expertly led by Fiona Reynolds for the past nine years. As David takes on the CEO role, we are also tremendously thankful to Fiona for her contributions.”
David will relocate to PRI’s headquarters in London from Australia in March next year.
He said: “I am very excited to be given this opportunity to lead the PRI in its next phase of meeting the needs of its broad and diverse signatory base. Responsible investment has entered the mainstream and today, for the first time, the majority of investors around the world recognise the importance of incorporating ESG factors into their investment and ownership activities.
“I look forward to working with the board and our talented team around the world to ensure that the PRI continues to provide the necessary support to enable our signatories to implement the six principles for responsible investment. Now more than ever, these principles play a critical role in helping institutional investors meet the needs of their beneficiaries, customers and the global community.”
