DTZ Investors has appointed Jennifer Linacre as head of responsible investment.
This is a board appointment, overseeing the firm’s responsible investment (RI) and corporate social responsibility programmes. Linacre will report directly to CEO Chris Cooper.
Linacre joined DTZI in 2000 and brings considerable experience and knowledge in investment, managing large discretionary and advisory property portfolios.
In addition, she chairs DTZI’s RI committee, which sets policy for the group on all matters relating to ESG standards in connection with the assets we manage for clients and our approach as a business and occupier of real estate.
Said Cooper: 'In a continuation of our commitment to embedding responsible investment into our business and investment processes, and to demonstrate the importance of RI in our corporate vision, we have appointed Jennifer Linacre as our head of responsible investment.
'This is a board level appointment to help set the corporate tone and to drive RI practices throughout our business.'
The central plank of the firm's RI strategy is a commitment to transitioning managed assets to net zero by 2040. CSR is delivered through commitments in the fields of respect, education accessibility, community and habitat (REACH), developed by the business during 2020 lockdown.
Said Linacre: 'I am very excited to be given this opportunity to lead DTZ Investors in the next phase of its RI commitments. In recent years the number of clients and investors seeking to ensure their investments consider environmental and societal challenges has surged.
'Climate change is a widely known issue, and as investment and asset managers, its important we make changes to our investment strategy to meet necessary targets.'
DTZ Investors is a member of the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change and a public supporter of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations.
This year it also committed to the challenging target of transitioning the direct holdings under its management to Net Zero Carbon by 2040. This is an ambitious timeframe for DTZ Investors as its clients’ portfolios are diverse, with a broad range of asset types, geography, age, use, and occupier base.
