Cartica Management, a majority women-owned active investor focused on improvements in corporate governance, environmental, and social factors in the emerging markets, has appointed Kate Ahern as Managing Director of ESG and Sustainability.
Ahern will lead Cartica’s ESG practice, overseeing the firm’s processes to identify potential value-adding engagement issues in its portfolio companies through the integration of ESG analysis into each step of the investment process. She will report to Emily Alejos, Cartica’s Chief Investment Officer.
Ahern has more than 15 years of experience, with a proven track record of success in the areas of ESG management, social impact diligence, and corporate responsibility.
“Kate has been a thoughtful contributor to the ESG and Impact investing space for years and it is with great enthusiasm that we welcome her to the firm,” says Teresa Barger, Co- Founder and CEO of Cartica. “Her efforts to build and launch new initiatives in ESG, in addition to her experience in India, Latin America, and Asia, are well-aligned with Cartica’s culture.”
Before joining Cartica, Ahern served as Director of ESG and Communications at Bain Capital, overseeing ESG management, impact investing, philanthropy and corporate citizenship. While there, she was responsible for implementing ESG across all asset classes within the investment portfolio. She was also responsible for developing the ESG integration strategy for its Public Equity Global Long Equity Fund and helped launch the Bain Capital Double Impact Fund. The Double Impact Fund was focused on investing in for-profit companies with a social mission, including both monitoring and measuring impact. Ahern has previously held roles at The Case Foundation and Pyxera Global in Washington, DC.
Ahern earned a BA degree in International Affairs from John Cabot University in Rome, Italy, and an MA in International Development and Conflict Resolution from American University in Washington, DC.