Northcape Capital creates responsible investment head role

Northcape Capital has hired David Whittaker to the newly created position of head of responsible investment, where he will ensure Northcape has a continued focus on ESG.

He will work closely with clients to ensure Northcape has a best practice approach in this area, while the responsibility of integrating ESG factors in Northcape's investment approach and engaging with companies on ESG issues will remain with the investment team.

Whittaker was most recently a senior member in the Investment Stewardship team at NSW Treasury Corporation, where he lead the active ownership program. He also has over a decade's experience as a company adviser on investor relations, disclosure, and governance matters.

"Incorporating ESG into our analysis has always played a key role in our investment process.  David's background in investment stewardship and equity markets means that he will be able to work with all our teams to ensure we continue to focus on key ESG factors that are important to us, and our clients, and do this in a consistent manner that strives for best ," Northcape managing director, Michael Ryan, said.

Whittaker's appointment rounds out the investment team at Northcape following the hiring of Aimee Jordan in April and Wendy Herringer in June last year.

"The build out of the team is more a case of trying to stay focused on what's important to our clients and keep pace with what they need. There's always going to be regulatory changes, market changes [and we're] looking to expand our client base and diversify into different jurisdictions and so we have to have the personnel that can keep track of all the moving pieces," Ryan said.

Northcape Capital has also appointed Christine Cameron as an independent director to replace outgoing director Patrick Elliott.

"That's something that just gives us a new new set of eyes and new independent set of thinking to help us," Ryan said.