Poppy Allonby, an investment and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) leader with 20 years of asset management industry experience, will join T. Rowe Price Group as head of ESG Enablement on June 6, 2022.

Allonby will join the ESG Leadership Committee in this new post and will be responsible for driving cross-functional consistency and coordination of the firm's ESG strategy.

She will be in charge of the firm's corporate ESG positioning, global ESG product range, regulatory engagement, and go-to-market strategy, all of which will be in line with T. Rowe Price's business plans and ESG investment capabilities.

Allonby will be based in London and report to Eric Veiel, the firm's head of global equity and a member of the Management Committee, who is in charge of the firm's ESG investing, corporate, and operational activities. Donna Anderson, head of Corporate Governance for T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (TRPA); Maria Elena Drew, director of research for TRPA's Responsible Investing; and Chris Whitehouse, head of ESG for T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc. are the other members of the ESG Leadership Committee.

Eric Veiel said, "Our stakeholders, clients, employees, and shareholders, are interested not only in how we invest but also in how we behave as a firm. Poppy's investing, strategy, and global leadership experience, as well as her broad sustainability and climate change expertise, will be invaluable as we advance our ESG strategy and deliver an integrated ESG vision for the firm. As we embed sustainability principles throughout our business, we look forward to benefiting from the perspective and innovative approach she will bring to the ongoing buildout of our operational ESG capabilities."

Allonby was most recently the head of global product for BlackRock's active investment business in EMEA and APAC, where she was instrumental in developing and delivering the company's sustainable product strategy.

She was also in charge of product strategy, development, and structuring, as well as continuing investment oversight for over 1,000 funds with a total asset value of US $970 billion across all asset classes.

Previously, Allonby worked at BlackRock as a portfolio manager for multibillion-dollar global energy funds that invest across the traditional energy sector, as well as dedicated sustainable energy funds that invest in renewables, energy efficiency, automotive, and companies that are working to combat climate change.

She is a member of the MIT Energy Initiative's external advisory board, which is the university's hub for energy research, education, and outreach. She was a commissioner for the Energy Transitions Commission from 2016 to 2017, a global multidisciplinary thought leadership group focused on accelerating low-carbon energy systems. She was named a "Young Global Leader" by the World Economic Forum in 2016.

Featured Article: BlackRock: Why The Finance Industry Is Hesitant To Ramp Up ESG Efforts

Source: T. Rowe Price