Search this website. You can use fund codes to locate specific funds

Going mainstream: how ESG investing has evolved in the past six years

As our Global Equity ESG capability marks its six-year anniversary, we examine how ESG investing has powered into the mainstream during that period.

In this episode of Amplified, we join Lewis Grant, Senior Portfolio Manager, and Louise Dudley, Portfolio Manager, during one of their weekly catch-ups back at our head office. This week they look back at six years of Global Equity ESG: from the surge in data providers to an increased interest in the topic, they discuss how the ESG investing landscape has evolved. 

Louise says: “The people at the top end of the financial food-chain have started to articulate how some climate-related financial risks should be taken into account, including scenario testing, thinking about green terminology and frameworks.”

While Lewis adds: “People on the streets care about this [climate change]. Millennials are showing increasing interest and school students are joining protests across the world. But we’re also getting support from the top down. There is an increasing focus and resources – and a reason to do this, which is a great message.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

See our podcast guide on how to download our podcasts on your phone.

Louise Dudley
CFA, Portfolio Manager

Louise joined Hermes in March 2009 and leads the ESG and responsible investment research strategy within Global Equities for Hermes. Building on her experience developing factor testing platforms and enhancing the factor modelling capabilities of the team’s systems, Louise has applied this comprehensive analysis to ESG applications. Having delivered research supporting the returns from ESG integration, this has led to the creation of innovative customised product solutions and tools fulfilling client needs. Louise originally joined Hermes as a member of the stewardship advisory business, Hermes EOS. Prior to Hermes she worked for Coca Cola in a financial accounting role, having graduated with a Master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Durham. Louise holds the IMC and is a CFA charterholder. In 2017, she was named one of Financial News' Rising Stars of Asset Management.

More articles by this author
Lewis Grant
Senior Portfolio Manager

Lewis joined Hermes in February 2008 as a portfolio manager on the Global Equities team. In addition to his role as portfolio manager, Lewis is responsible for designing and implementing many of the team's systems. In particular he created Hermes' proprietary risk-modelling system, MultiFRAME, which is used across Hermes’ investment teams. He joined from Aon Consulting, where he worked as an actuarial consultant specialising in providing valuations and asset-liability modelling to a range of corporate and institutional clients. Lewis graduated from the University of Warwick in 2003 with a Master's degree in Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics and subsequently qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries.

More articles by this author

Featured Insights

Global Equity ESG marks six-year anniversary
Today, we look back on six years of Global Equity ESG.
Read more
Bringing clarity to ESG investing
We present our view on ESG investing.
Read more
ESG investing: a social uprising
Our seminal paper, ESG investing: does it just make you feel good, or is it actually good for your portfolio?, published in 2014, demonstrated the performance benefits of integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment decisions. 
Read more
View More Insights