Edinburgh-based global investment company abrdn announced a series of new senior sustainability-focused appointments, including Sarah Moody as Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, and hiring Kristina Church as Global Head of Corporate Sustainability, in addition to the launch of a new Executive Sustainability Committee.

The new announcement follows the appointment by abrdn in May of Dan Grandage as Chief Sustainability Officer, Investments, leading abrdn’s global sustainable and active ownership strategy.

The new Executive Sustainability Committee, which will be chaired by Moody, is aimed at accelerating the sustainability agenda at abrdn, by bringing together sustainable leads across investments, platforms and corporate sustainability to set strategy and direction on material sustainability areas at a group level, and to ensure alignment.

Moody joined abrdn in 2023, and has been serving as Chief Corporate Affairs & Investor Relations Officer, leading brand, marketing, communications, corporate sustainability and investor relations, in addition to serving as Chair of the abrdn Charitable Foundation. Prior to joining abrdn, she co-founded and served as CEO for sustainable investing-focused start-up asset manager Future 30 Funds.

Church will take on her new role leading the corporate sustainability team at abrdn next month, joining the firm from BNY Mellon, where she has most recently been serving as Global Head of Commercial Sustainable Solutions, after joining the firm in 2021 as Head of Responsible Strategy. Prior to joining BNY Mellon, she served as Head of Sustainable Solutions at Lombard Odier Investment Managers.

Moody said:

“Key to delivering on our sustainability objectives is our people, and it’s a privilege to accelerate our sustainability agenda. We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Kristina Church after an extensive market search. This is a critical role which is reflected in the depth and breadth of Kristina’s experience. We look forward to her joining us in June.”

Church added:

“It is a huge privilege to join abrdn at a time of transformation, with the groups commitment to sustainability matched by a desire to keep evolving, challenging and pushing forward in what is a complex area, as the most important issues always are. I’ve also long admired the work done by abrdn around social policy, and am excited to get started.”