US asset management group Blackstone is further expanding its Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) team, with five newly created senior positions across the US, Europe and Asia.
The group has hired Caroline Hill as head of Real Estate ESG for Europe. Hill will partner with the global head of Real Estate ESG, Eric Duchon, in building out the firm’s ESG capabilities across Europe in Real Estate Asset Management.
She was previously head of Responsible Business for Lloyds Banking Group. Before that she was director of Group Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Landsec, developing one of the UK’s leading real estate sustainability programmes and establishing Landsec’s net zero carbon strategy.
‘We view ESG as central to our mission of delivering strong returns for clients. Blackstone is using its scale and expertise to help strengthen our companies, assets and the communities in which they operate,’ said Jon Gray, Blackstone president and COO.
Last year the firm announced a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 15% across all new investments globally where it controls energy usage within the first three years of ownership.
The other new team members include Elizabeth Lewis, who was appointed new managing director of ESG (Corporate); James Mandel, who is taking the role of managing director of Sustainability (Portfolio Operations); Nina James as head of Real Estate ESG for Asia and Rita Mangalick, global head of ESG for Blackstone Alternative Asset Management (BAAM) and Blackstone Credit.
