Investment manager Franklin Templeton have appointed Anne Simpson as global head of Sustainability, a newly-created role charged with driving Franklin Templeton’s overall strategic direction on stewardship, sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment strategy globally.

Ms Simpson joins the firm from the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), where she served as managing investment director for Board Governance & Sustainability, leading the development and execution of CalPERS’ award-winning Sustainable Investment Strategy across a global portfolio of $500 billion with 80 percent assets internally managed. She will report to president and chief executive Jenny Johnson and join the firm on February 22, 2022, based in California.

Ms Johnson said: “A hire of this prominence demonstrates our commitment to being a global leader in stewardship and sustainability, which acknowledges that our choices as responsible investors have a profound effect on the world and its future, we are confident that Anne’s expertise and leadership will take our firm-wide efforts on sustainable investing to the next level."

Ms Simpson said, “I am delighted to join Franklin Templeton, a world-renowned investment firm with a 75-year track record shaped by strong values, innovation and long-term conviction. I look forward to being part of its next phase of growth and evolution in sustainable investing..”

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