Franklin Templeton has appointed Anne Simpson as its global head of sustainability. In the new position at the San Mateo, California-based asset manager, Simpson will be in charge of the asset management firm’s overall strategic direction on stewardship, sustainability and environmental, social and governance investment strategy globally.
Simpson joins Franklin Templeton from the California Public Employees Retirement System, where she served as managing investment director for board governance and sustainability, developing and executing its sustainability investment strategy across a global portfolio of $500 billion in which 80% of assets are internally managed.
“A hire of this prominence demonstrates our commitment to being a global leader in stewardship and sustainability, which acknowledges that our choices as responsible investors have a profound effect on the world and its future,” Jenny Johnson, Franklin Templeton's president and CEO, said in a statement. “We are confident that Anne’s expertise and leadership will take our firm-wide efforts on sustainable investing to the next level."
Before joining Calpers, Simpson was a senior faculty fellow and lecturer at the Yale School of Management, and served as head of the Global Corporate Governance Forum at the World Bank, executive director of the International Corporate Governance Network and joint managing director of Pensions and Investment Research Consultants Ltd.
The leadership changes coming in June, which also include wealth management and digital unit heads, come as the firm pushes to offer more comprehensive services.
Strategist sees relatively little risk of the university losing its tax-exempt status, which could pose opportunity for investors with a "longer time horizon."
As the next generation of investors take their turn, advisors have to strike a fine balance between embracing new technology and building human connections.
IFG works with 550 producing advisors and generates about $325 million in annual revenue, said Dave Fischer, the company's co-founder and chief marketing officer.
Five new RIAs are joining the industry coalition promoting firm-level impact across workforce, client, community and environmental goals.
RIAs face rising regulatory pressure in 2025. Forward-looking firms are responding with embedded technology, not more paperwork.
As inheritances are set to reshape client portfolios and next-gen heirs demand digital-first experiences, firms are retooling their wealth tech stacks and succession models in real time.
