David Atkin was named CEO of the Principles for Responsible Investment, the organization said Monday.
He will start Dec. 10, replacing Fiona Reynolds, who becomes CEO of Conexus Financial, Australia's largest independent financial media organization, starting in January.
Mr. Atkin most recently was deputy CEO of investment manager AMP Capital in Sydney before leaving in July. Before that he served as CEO of three Australian superannuation funds: Cbus, ESSSuper and JUST Super.
The A$54 billion ($40.6 billion) Cbus, a Melbourne-based super fund focused on employees of Australia's construction and building trades, is in merger talks with Media Super, which was formed when JUST Super and Print Super merged in 2008.
ESSSuper is a dedicated super fund for emergency services and Victorian government employees.
Mr. Atkin served on the PRI board between 2009 and 2015. PRI supports an international network of investor signatories incorporating ESG factors into investment and ownership decisions. Launched in 2006, the United Nations-supported network now has 4,300 signatories with a collective $121 trillion in assets under management.
PRI Chairman Martin Skancke said in the release that Mr. Atkin is well suited to lead PRI.
"David brings a strong understanding of the needs of PRI's signatories to the organization, with a sophisticated knowledge of the priorities and management of asset owners gained from his time in the investment industry," Mr. Skancke said.
In the same release, Mr. Atkin said that "responsible investment has entered the mainstream and today, for the first time, the majority of investors around the world recognize the importance of incorporating ESG factors into their investment and ownership activities."
