Biography

Mike joined in May 2023 as a Senior Investment Manager in the Natural Capital team. His main responsibilities include evaluating, underwriting and managing nature-based impact investment opportunities, as part of portfolio construction. He will also manage a number of strategic relationships with individuals or organisations as part of the execution of the strategy. Prior to joining Federated Hermes, Mike most recently led the underwriting and acquisition of forestry, planting land, peat restoration and other Natural Capital investment opportunities for investors and corporates at Tilhill Forestry, one of the UK’s largest land asset management companies where he returned in 2020, having previously worked there at the beginning of his career. He has over 30 years of experience in forestry and rural land management, including extensive experience in renewable energy investment, property development, agricultural diversification and large mixed use rural estate company management and diversification. Mike started out his career in forestry contracting and has since gained experience across a wide range of roles within the UK’s rural land management and nature-based asset management value chain.Highlights from his career include employment at Buccleuch Estates. With circa 200,000 acres under management, one of the largest landowners in Scotland, it is well-known as an innovator and sector pioneer in the context of natural capital projects and community engagement. Beginning in 2005 as the estate forester, he went on to gain his kite marks as a Chartered forester overseeing the management of circa 4,500 hectares of woodland and woodland carbon projects before successfully completing an MBA. In 2015, he became Head of Project Management with responsibility for managing an extensive asset review programme and overseeing disposals. In this capacity, he was also responsible for a portfolio of new investment and business improvement projects across the group’s estates in England and Scotland and chaired the investment committee for project investment decisions. Mike's educational qualifications include a masters in business administration (MBA) from the Open University and an undergraduate degree in Sports Science.