Mercer Investment Consulting has further recognised the growth in the demand for socially responsible investments by creating a new senior consulting role to lead its responsible investment (RI) business across the Asia Pacific.
Mercer has appointed Helga Birgden, the manager of governance and sustainable investment at the $20 billion UniSuper fund, to the new role. Simon Eagleton, Mercer principal, said there was an obvious client demand for advice on issues related to socially responsible investing. He said: “We need to be ahead of the curve on this. Our clients come to us because they expect us to be experts. “These [RI] areas bring a new dimension of risk. We have hired someone with a deep technical knowledge of all of the risks associated with RI.” Mercer was the first asset consultant to establish a committed global RI offering and has been recognised in the industry as a forerunner in the field. Birgden’s appointment brings the group of dedicated RI professionals globally to 10.
As the US investment landscape is dramatically reshaped by President Donald Trump’s worldview, asset owners need to revisit their approach to maximising returns. Perhaps they need to ensure their US portfolios have sufficient exposure to the rapidly emerging anti-ESG, anti-woke, anti-climate, anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), pro-patriot and American-first investment themes. And they could also consider replicating the stock trading patterns of Republican — and Democrat — members of Congress who may have the ‘inside oil’ when it comes to company announcements.
Russell BakerMarch 11, 2025
