Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) has appointed Aina Fukuda as an environmental, social and governance (ESG) manager in Japan.
Fukuda will be based in Tokyo and responsible for Japan stewardship and sustainable investments, the firm said in a statement. Her responsibilities will include direct engagement with companies, regulators and other investors on climate change, remuneration, board independence and diversity.
Fukuda is LGIM’s first local appointment. She will report to Sacha Sadan, director of corporate governance at LGIM and work alongside Stephen Johnson, head of client solutions in Japan.
“Given our significant holdings in Japanese companies and as a responsible steward of our clients’ assets, it is essential to be able to engage with companies and regulators to push for higher ESG standards,” Sadan said.
LGIM currently has a total of 16 people in its ESG team across Asia, London and the US. The firm said it plans to expand its teams in Asia next year.
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