UK-based investment management, wealth planning and private investment office services provider LGT Wealth Management announced the appointment of Phoebe Stone as its first Chief Sustainability Officer (UK).

Stone joined LGT in 2014 as a Portfolio Manager, and founded the firm’s sustainable investing division in 2018, and has been running the sustainable investing client proposition, dedicated sustainable investment team, ESG integration and stewardship proposition. She also sits on LGT’s Global Sustainable Committee, Investments and Clients and LGT’s Think Tank which reports into the Sustainability Board, in addition to chairing the Sustainable Investment Committee, Sustainable Business Committee and Sustainable Governance Committee and the socio-economic diversity workstream of LGT’s Diversity and Inclusion’s Committee.

Ben Snee, Chief Executive Officer of LGT Wealth Management, said:

“Chief sustainability officers are a rarity in wealth management, with sustainability roles too often seen as a niche area of the investment function. Our creation of a Chief Sustainability Officer is part of our commitment to ensuring we are a firm that looks at our impact on the world in a much broader way, building on our reputation as early-adopters when it comes to sustainability.”

In her new role, Stone will be responsible for running the sustainable investment and client proposition, sustainability data and stewardship teams, in addition to driving sustainable change throughout the firm’s operations and divisions, LGT said.

Alongside the appointment of Stone, LGT announced the promotion of Portfolio Manager Jordan Kelly to Senior Sustainable Research Analyst, with responsibility for overseeing sustainable fund, equity and bond research.

Stone said:

“The overarching goal is to drive forward our interconnected approach to sustainability, including heightened accountability for our own business practices and those of the companies in which we invest. Continuing to highlight the crucial role the financial sector can play in restoring and protecting our world is fundamental. While there is so much complexity and nuance inherent in sustainability, we are in the fortunate position of being able to dedicate what we feel are the necessary resources and expertise – evidenced by our Group’s long-term investment in, and focus on, this space.”