- Aon hires former Standard Life chief sustainable investment officer Sindhu Krishna to lead sustainability strategy for its UK investment consulting business.
- Appointment reflects rising demand from pension funds, insurers and institutional investors for climate aware investment strategies and regulatory alignment.
- Move strengthens Aon’s advisory capabilities as ESG integration, stewardship expectations and climate risk disclosure reshape asset allocation decisions.
Aon plc has appointed veteran sustainable investment leader Sindhu Krishna as partner and head of sustainability for its UK Investment Consulting business, reinforcing the firm’s push to expand climate and ESG advisory services for institutional investors.
Krishna joins the global professional services firm following a 14-year tenure at Standard Life, where she served as chief sustainable investment officer and led the development of the company’s sustainable investment platform. In that role, she oversaw the integration of climate, nature and social considerations across major investment portfolios, helping embed ESG risk management into long-term asset allocation and stewardship practices.
At Aon, Krishna will advise clients on sustainability-focused investment strategies, including implementation frameworks, fund manager selection and tailored solutions designed to align portfolios with evolving climate and regulatory expectations.
Her appointment reflects the growing pressure on pension funds, insurers and asset owners to integrate sustainability risks into investment decision-making while navigating a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.
Institutional Investors Seek Climate-Aware Investment Design
Large institutional investors across Europe are accelerating efforts to embed climate and sustainability considerations into portfolios. Regulatory frameworks such as the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation and the UK’s climate reporting requirements are pushing asset owners to demonstrate clearer alignment between investment strategy and long-term environmental and social outcomes.
Advisory firms are increasingly expected to support clients in translating these regulatory expectations into portfolio construction, manager mandates and stewardship practices.
Krishna’s experience spans both public and private markets, an area where investor demand has grown sharply as climate transition financing expands across infrastructure, private equity and real assets.
Maria Johannessen, senior partner and UK head of Investment for Aon, said sustainability expertise has become central to the firm’s advisory offering. “Sustainability is an increasingly critical area for our clients, so Sindhu Krishna’s leadership will help us to expand our capabilities and further accelerate our impact,” Johannessen said. “She brings considerable expertise in both public and private markets and in innovative climate-aware investment design, as well as regulatory reporting and stewardship and she is an award-winning leader in the sector.”
Johannessen added that Krishna’s experience will directly support clients navigating complex sustainability mandates.
“Sindhu will bring this range of expertise to our clients in pensions, insurance and not-for-profit organisations and I am sure she will make a significant impact in this ever more high-profile area.”
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ESG Integration Moves From Strategy To Implementation
Krishna’s appointment comes at a time when sustainability integration is shifting from high-level commitments toward detailed implementation across portfolios.
Institutional investors now face more detailed expectations around portfolio alignment with climate targets, biodiversity considerations and social risk exposure. These developments are prompting asset owners to seek more specialised advisory support to interpret regulatory frameworks and embed sustainability metrics into investment processes.
Investment consultants have become a key conduit between regulators, asset owners and asset managers, helping institutions translate sustainability policies into portfolio strategy.
Krishna’s background in building sustainable investment capabilities at a large asset manager is likely to strengthen Aon’s ability to guide clients through this transition.
Her work at Standard Life included developing governance structures for ESG integration, establishing climate investment strategies and advancing stewardship practices with portfolio companies.
Rising Demand For Sustainable Investment Advisory
The hiring also reflects the rapid growth of the sustainable investment advisory market as institutional investors face increasing scrutiny from regulators, beneficiaries and civil society.
Consultants are now expected to provide guidance across a broad set of sustainability priorities, from climate transition risks and nature-related impacts to social considerations and governance oversight.
For global firms such as Aon, strengthening sustainability expertise has become a competitive priority as clients demand more sophisticated analysis of climate risks, regulatory obligations and investment opportunities linked to the energy transition.
Krishna’s arrival positions the firm to support a growing client base seeking practical ways to align investment portfolios with long-term sustainability objectives while managing financial risk.
For investors and corporate leaders alike, the move reflects a broader shift across global capital markets. Sustainability considerations are increasingly embedded in investment governance, shaping how trillions of dollars are allocated across industries, infrastructure and emerging climate technologies.
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