Alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group has named Jackie Roberts as chief sustainability officer, a newly created position.
Roberts comes to Carlyle from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), where she was a senior director of the Idea Bank for the US Climate and Energy Program.
Roberts begins her duties in mid-February and will be based in Washington, DC.
Roberts will lead Carlyle’s global environmental, social and governance efforts (ESG) and work closely with its portfolio companies to drive understanding and adoption of ESG principles.
Carlyle co-CEO and chief investment officer William E Conway, Jr, says: “With her extensive background in tying business strategy to sustainability opportunities, Jackie will help ensure that Carlyle makes the most of our ESG efforts as we work to create value for our investors. We view ESG as not just compatible with value creation, but a tool to help us maximise returns.”
Roberts says: “Carlyle’s embrace of sustainability issues and wealth creation makes this a particularly promising opportunity. With its efforts to help create the PEGCC’s Guidelines for Responsible Investment and EcoValuScreen with EDF, Carlyle established itself as an early leader in this area. This gives us a running start that I believe has much run room. I especially look forward to working with the investment teams on these important matters.”
