Q&A with our new Research Director James Leaton

Who is James Leaton and what experience do you bring?

I have plenty of experience making sustainable development issues relevant to investors, having worked at Moody’s, Carbon Tracker, PwC and WWF, primarily looking at how companies affect society and the environment.

Why did you join the SDI AOP? Why do you personally care about sustainable investing?

I think the current focus on climate needs to be broadened to sustainable development; and we need to apply the latest technology to improve the approaches available to investors. None of the world’s sustainable development targets can be achieved unless finance is directed to support them.

What do you think of the company’s mission?

It makes sense that investors want to be closer to the research and data feeding into their investment strategies, to ensure they are getting the signals they need to deliver for their members. This is the future for investors wanting credible research.

What do you think are the biggest challenges the SDI AOP will face? What are you most afraid of regarding the future of the SDI AOP?

The key challenge is delivering research that hasn’t been done before – extending the breadth and depth of coverage, but that doesn’t scare me. The biggest challenge is the broader one of delivering on the SDGs, which is currently off track, and we need to connect more to that.

Where do you want the SDI AOP to be in 3 – 5 years’ time? Which opportunities do you see?

We want the AOP to become a reference point for investors active in this area, building on the excellent foundation that is already in place. There is an opportunity to create an aligned community who can share resources to deliver both impact and financial returns.

What will you do in your first 100 days as Research Director of the SDI AOP?

We need to put together a strategy to deliver the research program that will take the SDI-AOP to the next level. I am here to maximise the potential of the data and will be spending time with asset owners to understand their future needs. It’s my job to turn the ambitions of the board into a reality, working with our research and distribution partners.

If you translate the importance of an initiative like SDI AOP to an average person, where does SDI AOP make a difference?

Well, it can be really hard to engage people on pensions, but basically the decisions anyone makes about where their pension goes today, will determine the world they and their families will be living in in the future. Pension choice is one of the most impactful sustainability actions an individual can take, but probably one of the least common. Getting a critical mass of investors to do that will be success.