Natixis Investment Managers Appoints First Head of CSR and ESG

BOSTON & PARIS & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Natixis Investment Managers, one of the world's largest asset managers with €802.1bn in AUM, has appointed Harald Walkate as Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and ESG.

In this newly created role, Harald will be responsible for driving Natixis Investment Managers’ CSR globally and its ESG commitments across its distribution network, its affiliate managers and as part of industry-wide initiatives.

He will report to Beverly Bearden, Deputy CEO, Natixis Investment Managers, and Christophe Lanne, Chief Transformation & Talent Officer, Asset & Wealth Management division. He will be based in Paris.

He joins Natixis from Aegon Asset Management (AAM), The Netherlands, where he was a Senior Vice-President and Global Head of Responsible Investment. In this role he focused on ESG integration, engagement and impact investment across both Aegon Group and AAM. Prior to this he worked on New Business Initiatives for AAM, developing strategy with a focus on Institutional clients. Since 2018, he has also worked as an advisor to the Impact Management Project (IMP) on secondment from Aegon. He will continue this advisory role when he moves to Natixis Investment Managers.

Beverly Bearden commented: “Corporate Social Responsibility is a key philosophy for Natixis Investment Managers and a cornerstone of our 2020 New Dimension Plan. Harald’s appointment as our first head of CSR and ESG demonstrates our ongoing commitment to drive initiatives that deliver long-term sustainable solutions for clients.”

Christophe Lanne commented: “We recognize through our own industry research that clients are more cognizant and vocal about investing in companies that have a positive social impact and a good environmental record. We are therefore delighted that Harald will be driving CSR and ESG policies across the firm and working with our investment affiliates to do the same.”

Harald Walkate commented: “Natixis Investment Managers is an industry leader in ESG both through its ESG investment expertise and its involvement with global initiatives such as the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, G7 Investor Leadership Network, and World Economic Forum Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders. I look forward to working in partnership with some of the best investment managers in the industry and supporting their commitment to sustainable investment solutions.”

About Natixis Investment Managers

Natixis Investment Managers serves financial professionals with more insightful ways to construct portfolios. Powered by the expertise of more than 20 specialized investment managers globally, we apply Active Thinking^® to deliver proactive solutions that help clients pursue better outcomes in all markets. Natixis ranks among the world’s largest asset management firms¹ ($917.1 billion/€802.1 billion AUM²).

Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Investment Managers is a subsidiary of Natixis. Listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, Natixis is a subsidiary of BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France. Natixis Investment Managers’ affiliated investment management firms and distribution and service groups include Active Index Advisors^®;³ AEW; Alliance Entreprendre; AlphaSimplex Group; Darius Capital Partners; DNCA Investments;⁴ Dorval Asset Management;⁵ Flexstone Partners;⁶ Gateway Investment Advisers; H2O Asset Management;⁵ Harris Associates; Investors Mutual Limited; Loomis, Sayles & Company; Managed Portfolio Advisors^®;³ McDonnell Investment Management;⁷ Mirova;⁸ MV Credit; Naxicap Partners; Ossiam; Ostrum Asset Management; Seeyond;⁸ Seventure Partners; Vaughan Nelson Investment Management; and Vega Investment Managers. Not all offerings available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit the company’s website at im.natixis.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/natixis-investment-managers.

Natixis Investment Managers includes all of the investment management and distribution entities affiliated with Natixis Distribution, L.P. and Natixis Investment Managers S.A.

Natixis Distribution, L.P. is a limited purpose broker-dealer and the distributor of various registered investment companies for which advisory services are provided by affiliates of Natixis Investment Managers.

¹ Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2018 ranked Natixis Investment Managers as the 16th largest asset manager in the world based on assets under management as of December 31, 2017.
² Net asset value as of December 31, 2018. Assets under management (“AUM”), as reported, may include notional assets, assets serviced, gross assets and other types of non-regulatory AUM. AUM does not include Vega Investment Managers, which was transferred to Natixis Wealth Management in December 2018.
³ A division of Natixis Advisors, L.P.
⁴ A brand of DNCA Finance.
⁵ A subsidiary of Ostrum Asset Management.
⁶ Flexstone Partners assets as of 9/30/18. Flexstone was established in 2018 by bringing together four specialized private investments firms: Caspian Private Equity, Euro-Private Equity France, Euro-Private Equity Swiss and Eagle Asia Partners.
⁷ Natixis Investment Managers transferred ownership of McDonnell Investment Management, LLC to Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. on 1/1/19.
⁸ Operated in the U.S. through Ostrum Asset Management U.S., LLC.

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