Cristina Hastings Newsome will join Westchester Group Investment Management as head of sustainability, effective April 12.
The position is new, a spokeswoman said.
Based in London, Ms. Hastings Newsome will be responsible for the $8 billion firm's global sustainability efforts and will support the team's approach to "sensitively managing farmland investments."
Her role will also include supporting the firm's response to rising investor demand for carbon-neutral portfolios.
She will report to Martin Davies, CEO and president of Westchester.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of agriculture to everyday societies, with food essential to a growing population," Mr. Davies said in a news release.
He said the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization estimates that $350 billion of investment is needed by agriculture and the supply chain to develop sustainable food production systems every year.
"We are committed to reducing the environmental impact of agricultural production whilst acting as valued partners with local communities to drive ESG improvements. For our increasingly sustainably focused investors, this is compelling," Mr. Davies said.
Westchester is an affiliate company of Nuveen.
Ms. Hastings Newsome was global sustainability lead at agriculture firm Louis Dreyfus Co. in Switzerland.
