Deborah Ng joined Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. on Monday as the firm's first head of ESG and sustainability.
The position is new, confirmed a GMO spokesman in an email.
Ms. Ng is responsible for leading and accelerating the company's existing ESG and sustainability-related initiatives and will work with investment teams to further integrate ESG factors into their investment processes as well as advancing the company's internal sustainability goals, said a news release Monday.
Ms. Ng previously was director, total fund management, and head of responsible investing at the C$241.6 billion ($187.1 billion) Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Toronto. Spokesman Dan Madge said in an email that the pension fund currently is recruiting for a managing director for responsible investing and corporate governance.
Ms. Ng will remain based in Toronto but will travel regularly to GMO's Boston headquarters, GMO's spokesman said.
"Stewardship has always been an important part of GMO's DNA," said Scott Hayward, the firm's CEO, in the release. "I strongly believe that how we incorporate ESG and sustainability is integral in generating outstanding investment results."
GMO managed a $69.8 billion as of Feb. 28. The breakdown of the firm's assets managed in ESG strategies was not available.
