Sustainable investment firm Connected has announced Mike O’Brien, the former CEO EMEA and co-head of global multi asset solutions at the world’s largest active asset manager JP Morgan, is to become a senior adviser.
A seasoned private investor, Mike has also invested in the Connected Group, which is set to develop an industry-leading framework to allow UK DC pension schemes to invest in sustainable asset classes operating in sectors such as clean energy, social housing and tech for good as well as global investment initiatives such as microfinance.
The news follows the announcement last month that Nico Aspinall, CIO at the People’s Pension, was to lead its sustainable investment strategy.
Darren Agombar, Connected founder and CEO, said: “Mike joining us is a landmark moment for the Connected Group as we head towards a critical year in our growth trajectory.
“His reputation, his detailed knowledge of the global asset market, and his experience of delivering change at the highest level, is unrivalled.
“Mike’s investment and insight will be a game changer as we develop an entirely sustainable solution to long-term investment for the UK pensions industry.
“As the UK takes the presidency of COP26, this is the year we expect to see the pensions industry crank up another gear as interest in sustainable investment and its impact on climate change goes mainstream.”
Mike said: “What Connected is doing is absolutely the right way to go. The momentum towards sustainable investment is slowly building within the UK pensions industry.
“Now we need to see urgent progress towards a clear solution that delivers the right level of diversification and risk management and satisfies the growing appetite for affordable investment in alternative asset classes.
“Darren’s team is creating the green building blocks that will allow for a wholesale shift in the way we invest.”
In July, Connected acquired the UK’s leading tech for good VC firm Bethnal Green Ventures, part of its plan to deploy UK pension capital to support successful British firms operating in the impact sector.
