BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM), has strengthened its responsible investment team with the appointment of two specialists.

Karlijn Van Lierop will join the business in January 2022 as the responsible investment product specialist for the Netherlands, helping drive BMO GAM’s responsible engagement overlay business in the country. Based in Amsterdam, Ms Van Lierop joins BMO GAM from MN where she was heading up the responsible investment team as a director of responsible investment since 2012.

Isabelle Meyer also joined the business in October 2021 as a responsible investment product specialist for the German market.

Ms Meyer joins BMO GAM from Insight Investment Management where she worked since 2012 and has been an ESG fixed income investment specialist since 2016. She specialised on strategies and segregated mandates that implemented the entire spectrum of responsible investment approaches, from ESG integration, exclusions, positive allocation, thematic tilts and impact investing.

In their new roles Ms Van Lierop and Ms Meyer will report to Claudia Wearmouth, co-head of BMO GAM’s responsible investment team. Working closely with the client management teams in their respective markets, they will manage existing reo clients by delivering regular updates on engagement activity and broader responsible investment advice. They will also help BMO GAM to drive growth in the reo business, as well as channelling clients into innovative strategies to meet their needs in responsible investment.

BMO GAM’s Responsible Engagement Overlay service (reo) was launched in 2000 and now manages £356 billion of clients’ assets. This service provides clients with access to a full suite of stewardship expertise including research, screening, engagement and proxy voting. It also allows clients to enjoy greater influence to effect positive change by pooling assets to create one single, powerful voice.

Claudia Wearmouth, said: “The appointment of Karlijn and Isabelle demonstrates our commitment in the Netherlands and Germany, focusing on providing best in class client service and our continued investment into our highly respected reo service. We are delighted to welcome both Karlijn and Isabelle to our team.”