Stockholm (NordSIP) – Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, announced that Dr. Jean Rogers, Founder and Former CEO of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), will be joining the firm in January 2022 as its Global Head of ESG.
Dr. Rogers will oversee Blackstone’s corporate ESG team, leading strategy, integration, reporting and engagement. She will work closely with Blackstone’s business unit heads of ESG, operational and asset management teams to ensure a highly integrated and coordinated approach. With stakes in more than 250 companies, Blackstone impacts nearly half a million employees and countless communities.
“Blackstone’s scale, expertise, and commitment to ESG enable it to drive growth by being a force for good. Resilient companies are at the heart of resilient portfolios that can outperform in a diverse society and decarbonized economy—and this helps deliver strong returns for clients. I look forward to working with Jon, Christine and the talented Blackstone ESG team to integrate consideration of ESG factors to drive strong performance through better social and environmental outcomes,” Dr. Rogers said.
Dr. Rogers founded and led the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), a non-profit dedicated to enhancing the efficiency of U.S. capital markets by fostering disclosure of material sustainability information that meets investor needs and enhances public trust in companies. Under Jean’s leadership, the SASB developed sustainability accounting standards for 79 industries with the involvement of 3,000 stakeholders, raised over $25 million for ESG research on materiality, launched an education program in sustainability accounting, and convened an Investor Advisory Group comprised of leading asset owners and managers with more than $33T in AUM, all advocating for market standards.
“We are thrilled to have attracted someone of Jean’s caliber to lead our ESG efforts. Jean’s significant domain expertise will be invaluable as we work to advance diversity, decarbonization and good governance across our portfolio. ESG initiatives are integral to how we drive value for our investors and we look forward to partnering with Jean to advance these important efforts in the years ahead,” Jon Gray, President and Chief Operating Officer, said.
Prior to founding SASB, Dr. Rogers worked for more than a decade in sustainable development for Arup, a global engineering consultancy, and for Deloitte in management consulting. She holds a doctorate in environmental engineering and is a former Loeb Fellow at Harvard University.
“Jean is a remarkable leader who will bring considerable expertise and energy to our ESG efforts. Her foundational work in ESG measurement and accountability will be hugely additive as we seek to build stronger, more resilient companies through ESG integration,” said Christine Anderson, Global Head of External Relations.
