Stockholm (NordSIP) – Sarah Gordon has been appointed as the first CEO of the Impact Investing Institute, a new and independent organisation aiming to accelerate the growth, and improve the effectiveness, of the UK impact investing market.
The Institute was launched on June 3rd and consolidated two UK bodies relevant for its mission: the UK National Advisory Board on Impact Investing (UK NAB) and the Implementation Taskforce on Growing a Culture of Social Impact Investing in the UK (Implementation Taskforce). Ms Gordon was recruited by Sir Harvey McGrath and Dame Elizabeth Corley, the Chairs of the Institute’s Advisory Council and of its Management Board, respectively. The Institute will encourage savers to invest sustainably through ISAs, pensions and savings products that target social housing, renewable energy or sustainable employment, among others.
“I am delighted that Sarah has accepted the position of CEO for the Impact Investing Institute,” said Dame Elizabeth Corley.“Sarah brings a valuable combination of breadth of experience and passion for the role, underpinned by a compelling vision for the Institute’s role and potential.” She was joined by Sir Harvey McGrath, who commented that “Sarah is a great appointment as the CEO of the Impact Investing Institute. Her clear values, experience and drive will enable the institute to get off to a strong start and make a real difference in further developing the market for purposeful investing in the UK and beyond.”
Ms Gordon has worked at the Financial Times (FT) for the last 18 years. During her tenure, she oversaw the newspaper’s corporate coverage during the financial crisis and subsequently took on the roles of business editor and associate editor. Concurrently with her career at the FT, Ms Gordon was also a trustee and a board member at the Community Service Volunteers, assisting the charity coping with public funding withdrawal in 2007. Between 2017 and 2018, she was a panel member for the Civil Society Futures, an initiative mainly funded by the Baring Foundation. Between 1997 and 2000, she worked as an economist at Citibank Global Asset Management where she focused on emerging market debt and equity markets
The Institute is supported by the UK financial services and social sector, and by private firms and foundations and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for International Development and the City of London Corporation.
“Investors have the power to make the world a better place and can give people the opportunity to support issues they care about,” noted Baroness Sugg, International Development Minister. “DFID research shows that nearly 70% of UK savers want their investments and savings to make an impact. UK aid will support the new Impact Institute to mobilise more investment in developing countries to help meet the Global Goals by 2030.”
