Square Mile Investment Consulting and Research (Square Mile) has announced the formation of the Square Mile sustainability board to govern and guide the firm’s sustainability initiatives, research and products.
The board includes three leading figures in the field of responsible investment: Neville White (pictured left), who will act as its chair, and Bev Shah (centre) and Alan Whittle (pictured right) who join as non-executive directors.
Neville White has 27 years’ experience as an ESG consultant within the asset management industry. This includes over 13 years as Edentree’s head of RI policy and research and head of corporate governance.
Bev Shah is co-chief executive of City Hive, a think tank working to build an inclusive investment management industry through its ACT Framework and mentoring initiatives, and a non-executive director of The Big Exchange. Shah has also worked at leading investment firms, including Aviva and HSBC Investments.
Alan Whittle is founder of Unburdened Solutions, a sustainability training and consultancy services provider to financial planning firms. He is also a member of the PFS sustainability panel, a subject matter expert on Financial Services Compliance and is currently the PFS North Scotland Chair.
The sustainability board will provide independent oversight to advise and challenge Square Mile on all issues related to sustainability. This includes providing guidance in developing long-term sustainability strategies; monitoring Square Mile’s sustainability performance and highlighting areas for improvement; enhancing the firm’s accountability for its sustainability commitments; and engaging with stakeholders and clients.
These three board members will be joined by three internal stakeholders: Diane Earnshaw, Square Mile’s research & consulting director; Jake Moeller, associate director – responsible investment; and Scott Dakers, business development director. This will help ensure the board’s recommendations are implemented efficiently across the firm’s operations.
Richard Romer-Lee, chief executive of Square Mile, said: “Square Mile is predicated on helping advisers make better informed decisions to deliver on their clients’ financial expectations.
“Nowhere is this more vital than in the field of sustainable investment, where it is frequently difficult to make like-for-like comparisons given the broad spectrum of strategies now available. We have invested heavily in ensuring that all our work in this area, whether our research, our sustainable investment solutions, or our consultancy, remains best in class.
“However, we also recognise the importance of independent, external governance to remove any element of subjectivity. We are therefore honoured to welcome three of the industry’s leading experts on sustainability to advise us in all our endeavours, as well as to hold us to account, should that ever be necessary.”
Neville White, chair of the Square Mile sustainability board, added: “All too often, sustainable investment has come under scrutiny due to a perceived lack of accountability, objectivity and transparency around differing investment approaches, philosophies and strategies.
“Fully independent oversight is essential, therefore, in ensuring that any work in this field is fully credible. In creating its Sustainability Board, Square Mile has demonstrated its commitment to impartiality across its operations, accepting the importance of third-party guidance and debate.
“My fellow external board members and I look forward to working collegiately with Square Mile’s internal board appointees to help deliver the very best sustainable outcomes for all stakeholders and clients.”
