International asset manager Robeco announced today the appointment of David Thomas as Senior Portfolio Manager for the firm’s soon-to-launch biodiversity strategy.

Planned to roll out in Q4 2022, the actively managed RobecoSAM Biodiversity Equities strategy will invest in companies supporting the sustainable use of natural resources and ecosystem services, and providers of technologies, products and services that help to reduce biodiversity threats or contribute to restoring natural habitats. The strategy will be classified as Article 9 (products with a sustainable investment objective) under the SFDR regulation.

Mark van der Kroft, CIO Fundamental and Quant Equity, Robeco:

“We are very pleased to welcome David to Robeco. Our range of thematic investment strategies has seen strong interest, and our dedication, ambition and commitment allows us to attract the best world-class professionals. David’s appointment marks an essential step toward launching the RobecoSAM Biodiversity Equities thematic investment strategy, an important milestone in the biodiversity roadmap we outlined earlier this year.”

Thomas joins Robeco from investment management firm Ellerston Capital, where he served as Portfolio Manager, responsible for managing multiple strategies, including a fund for one of the world’s biggest sovereign wealth asset owners. Before joining Ellerston in 2016, he served at a series of capital markets and professional services firms including CLSA, Macquarie, Morgan Stanley and PwC.

In his new role, Thomas will work alongside investment professionals from the company’s Thematic Investment team, SI Research, and Active Ownership across the company. He will prepare for the launch together with Aaron Re’em, a key developer of the investment strategy for the biodiversity theme.

Thomas, said:

“The financial sector has a crucial role in helping to reduce further biodiversity loss by investing in companies that sustainably use or preserve natural capital. I am very proud to have been appointed Senior Portfolio Manager of the new strategy. I am pleased to be working with Aaron and the wider team of investment and SI specialists. Together we aim to deliver to our clients an exciting and meaningful opportunity within the biodiversity theme.”

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