Insignia announces newly created head of responsible investing role

Insignia Financial has appointed James Tayler to the newly created role of head of responsible investing within the firm’s investment management team.

Mr Tayler has a global career in investment management spanning nearly 30 years with a strong focus on the integration of ESG considerations into investment processes.

He joins Insignia from Ellerston Capital where he served as head of ESG. Before relocating to Australia in 2016, Mr Tayler also held a variety of investment management roles based in London and Zurich.

As head of responsible investing, Insignia said that Mr Tayler would be accountable for facilitating a high quality and constantly evolving responsible investing strategy across all of the firm’s investment capabilities.

“We are excited to welcome James and all the industry experience he brings with him to the team. He will support the development of our responsible investing capabilities across the business, building on the robust framework our investment teams already have in place,” said Insignia Financial CIO Dan Farmer.

According to Insignia, responsibilities for the new role will include identifying and managing ESG risks and opportunities and maximising the effectiveness of engagement with managers and companies with a focus on climate change, modern slavery and governance.

“This is a hugely important focus area for Insignia Financial as an investment business, as well as something that is of keen interest for all our clients, both those in the super funds as well as those using our wide range of investment options,” said Insignia Financial GM asset management distribution Mandy Mannix.

“Having James on the team will allow us to better showcase the ‘ESG’ focus that already exists, while also ensuring our approach remains relevant and contemporary.”

Additionally, the firm said that the head of responsible investing would be integral in helping it improve the way it communicates its responsible investment actions.

In April, Insignia reported that its funds under management fell by 1.9 per cent during the March quarter to $96.9 billion while total funds under administration sat at $220.3 billion.

“At Insignia Financial, we believe integrating ESG factors into our investment process helps to manage risks and identify opportunities for our investors,” said Mr Farmer.

“Consideration of these factors needs to be an integral aspect of any investment process. With James leading our ESG approach, we are well placed to deliver sustainable investment opportunities and outcomes for our clients.”