Aviva Investors has appointed a new global head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investment research.

Paul LaCoursiere has been hired for the newly-created role within Aviva’s Global Responsible Investment team.
 
Based in London and reporting to Steve Waygood, chief responsible investment officer, Mr LaCoursiere will be responsible for the corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) research process at Aviva Investors,

The firm says his role will include “the integration and monitoring of ESG criteria within equities and credit.”

He will jointly lead the research team with Mirza Baig, global head of governance.

In addition to leading on all stewardship, voting and engagement activities, Mr Baig is responsible for ESG integration across multi-asset & macro and real assets portfolios.
 
Mr LaCoursiere has 17 years’ experience in the asset management industry and assumes the role after spending the last three years as global head of corporate research, Aviva Investors.

Having worked as a fixed income portfolio manager for Aviva Investors between 2010 and 2013, he re-joined the business in 2014 following a year at Chicago Equity Partners as managing director and senior fixed income portfolio manager.
 
Steve Waygood, chief responsible investment officer at Aviva Investors, said: “Over the past two years we have added substantial resources to our ESG research capabilities, which we believe has a critical role to play in enhancing stock selection, portfolio construction and risk-adjusted returns for our clients.

“Paul has a wealth of experience in fund management, investment research and quantitative analytics, as well as established relationships with portfolio managers and analysts.

“This made him the outstanding candidate to lead the team, working in partnership with Mirza Baig.”
 
Following Mr LaCoursiere’s appointment, Oliver Judd and Kevin Gaydos were named co-heads of credit research, reporting to Colin Purdie, chief investment officer, credit.
 
London-based Mr Judd has more than 20 years’ industry experience and joined Aviva Investors in 2006.

He will continue to lead the Financials team.

Based in Chicago, Mr Gaydos also has more than 20 years’ industry experience and joined Aviva Investors in 2008.

He will continue to lead the firm’s Commodities and Industrials team.