Leon Kamhi

Celebrating its 20^th anniversary, EOS at Federated Hermes Limited (EOS) has passed US$2 trillion in assets on which it advises on behalf of its asset owner clients. Through its corporate engagement and proxy voting services, EOS enables its clients to be more active owners of their equity and fixed-income assets, with the aim of enhancing financial performance over the long-term including through better outcomes for society and the environment.

Year to date, EOS has welcomed six new asset owner-clients representing a collective portfolio of US$330bn. Clients come from the insurance sector, local government and private pension schemes in Australia, Denmark, Sweden and the United States, where EOS established its presence in 2018 and has since doubled its client base.

Leon Kamhi, Head of Responsibility and EOS at Federated Hermes Limited said: “We are privileged to serve over 70 institutional investor clients representing over US$2 trillion of assets, engaging with companies and policymakers on key business performance themes such as corporate governance, business purpose, climate change, human capital and human rights. Since EOS was established, our multi-disciplinary and internationally diverse team has grown to over 40 people in Europe and the US.

“The purpose of our service remains fundamentally about stewarding clients’ investments as an active, engaged owner as a way to add financial value. However, our approach has significantly developed both through the sophisticated techniques employed by our engagers and our introduction of systematic engagement and tracking tools to measure progress and outcomes. This evolution has come against the backdrop of a greater understanding and enthusiasm for active ownership which we have seen through the growing demand for EOS services.”

Mike Wills, Head of EOS Business Development & Client Management at EOS at Federated Hermes Limited said: “Looking ahead to the next 20 years, a survey of EOS clients revealed a clear consensus that our stewardship approach should continue to focus on enhancing financial performance of issuers and value of clients’ portfolios by achieving positive real-world outcomes. Examples include the strong recovery of the natural world, real decarbonisation, reduction in inequality within and between nations and significant progress on workforce conditions.

“Clients also emphasised the need for all stakeholders, including investors, businesses, and policymakers to give greater attention to how the new global economy will develop. They highlighted the importance of policymakers setting longer time horizons for policy to allow companies to better align their longer-term capital expenditure decisions and strategic planning with the transition.”

The post EOS at Federated Hermes Limited passes $2 trillion in assets under advice appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Gemma Corrigan

The International business of Federated Hermes has appointed Gemma Corrigan as Head of Policy and Advocacy, based in London. She will work within its Responsibility Office and report to Leon Kamhi, Head of Responsibility. 

Gemma will develop and lead the implementation of the firm’s advocacy programme. Drawing on her significant public sector experience, she will engage with external stakeholders to advocate for industry progress on all sustainability issues including climate change, human capital management, corporate governance and how the investment industry can better serve its clients and their investors.  

Together with Leon, she will develop the firm’s responsibility policy and climate change strategy and oversee and support its implementation across all our business activities and ensuring their alignment to the firm’s commitment to sustainable wealth creation for investors. 

The International business of Federated Hermes has a strong advocacy track record, having played an integral role in the development of and later becoming a founding signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment in 2006. It acts as chair for the FCA-PRA Climate Financial Risk Forum’s Disclosures Working Group, as well as the UK chapter of the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF). The business engaged extensively with the FRC during its revision process of the UK Stewardship Code, helping to shape a rigorous and ambitious Code demonstrative of the UK as leaders in the field. 

Gemma joins from the World Economic Forum, where she was a Senior Economist and Lead for the Sustainable Markets Initiative, which aims to accelerate an industry-wide transition to sustainable markets and rapid decarbonisation. She has worked previously at the United Nations and the United States Embassy and holds degrees from both Columbia University and the London School of Economics. 

Leon Kamhi, Head of Responsibility at the International business of Federated Hermes, said: “Gemma has a strong multidisciplinary background which covers ESG, public policy and sustainability amongst many other things. She has a wealth of experience driving complex and ambitious initiatives, all of which will be enormously valuable to us in our continued efforts to demonstrate and drive positive change within our industry. Gemma will be a great asset to our team and we look forward to working with her.” 

Gemma Corrigan said: “I am delighted to be joining the International business of Federated Hermes at such a pivotal time for responsible investment. Federated Hermes has a long and successful track record of driving real change across the investment industry by way of their stewardship, advocacy and policy programmes, and look forward to building upon this to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable world and global economy.”

The post Federated Hermes appoints Gemma Corrigan as Head of Policy and Advocacy appeared first on AdviserVoice.