AustralianSuper has signalled its intention to increase its focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, with the creation of the new role of governance manager within the investment team.
Former Goldman Sachs head of ESG research, Andrew Gray, has been recruited to the position and will start in July.
Chief investment officer Mark Delaney said the new role would enable the fund to be more pro-active in identifying and addressing critical governance issues that may impact the value of investments.
“As a long-term investor, AustralianSuper has a responsibility to assess and manage all foreseeable risk factors effectively, and ESG is considered as an investment-related risk,” Delaney said.
“We believe that companies which employ good governance practices and actively consider environmental and social issues will ultimately provide better value than companies that do not.”
Superannuation funds are expanding their activities in the advice space and a leading recruitment firm has shared the typical salaries on offer with three funds namechecked for their attractive offerings.
The council has urged government to avoid shifting ballooning CSLR costs onto 12 million low- and middle-income Australians.
Australia's superannuation success had built a substantial pool of retirement capital but it has created liquidity challenges as the system has outgrown the domestic market for investment opportunities, writes BNY's Otto Vaeisaenen.
Australia's largest super fund has announced its new chief financial officer as the fund prepares for its next phase of growth.