Chandra Gopinathan has been named as head of responsible investment research at U.K. headquartered asset manager Insight Investment, according to a news release.
The role will be based in London. Gopinathan will report to to Robert Sawbridge, head of responsible investment at Insight. In the position, he will be expected to lead Insight’s sustainability-related research activities and integrating research findings to improve decision making.
“Chandra has impressive experience gained over two decades across investment strategy, credit, stewardship, climate and net zero initiatives with a specific focus on fixed income,” said Sawbridge in the news release.
“He has proven experience of implementing and delivering responsible investment research programs in institutional markets and comes with an important understanding of asset owner requirements in this space.”
Gopinathan replaces David McNeil in the role, who held the position from August 2022 to June this year, and has since become vice president for global climate research and strategy at PGIM.
Prior to joining Insight, Gopinathan was a senior investment manager at the £34 billion ($43 billion) Railways Pension Scheme, London, where he co-led the credit strategy and manager selection team, analyzing credit risk for inclusion in the investment process. Railpen did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding a replacement.
Gopinathan has also played a leading role in developing industry guidelines for bondholders with regard to sustainability issues, chairing both the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change, the Bondholder Stewardship working group and the Asset Owner Working Group of the Transition Pathway Initiative.
Insight managed £665 billion of assets as of Sept. 30, across its core liability driven investment, risk management, full-spectrum fixed income and currency capabilities.
