Stockholm (NordSIP) – On 3 November, NordSIP learned that Willem Schramade would be leaving academia and his independent consultancy to join Schroders as Head of Sustainability Client Advisory. This newly created role seems tailor-made for him. Backed by Schroders’ sustainable global investment team and regional specialists, he will endeavour to enhance the strategic sustainability support that the asset manager offers its key clients.
Schramade is perhaps best known for co-authoring Principles of Sustainable Finance together with Professor Dirk Schoenmaker. The book is an insightful guide to how the tools of finance can be applied to encourage sustainable development and a healthier, happier world. During the past few years, he has dedicated most of his time to researching and teaching at Erasmus University and the Rotterdam School of Management. Yet, Schramade is also a sustainable finance practitioner with extensive industry experience. He started his career at Robeco, where he held several roles focused on sustainability, before joining NN Investment Partners, where he was an impact investing portfolio manager and, most recently, a sustainable finance consultant.
In his new global role at Schroders, Schramade will be reporting to Gavin Ralston, the asset manager’s Head of Strategic Client Group. “Willem will be focused on supporting our clients and client-facing teams navigate the sustainable investment landscape,” comments Ralston. “He is exceptionally well placed to do so, having built up two decades of industry experience working on sustainability, valuation and impact investing as an academic, an asset management specialist and as a consultant.”
Schramade will no doubt be boosting Schroders’ client advisory capabilities, given his hands-on experience in implementing sustainable strategies as well as his pedagogical skills honed during his years at the university.
“With ESG issues of increasing importance to investors, ensuring we have the right expertise across the business is critical when it comes to strengthening our position as trusted advisers to clients,” Ralston points out. “We have made significant strides in establishing our sustainability credentials, but the bar is rising, and we are committed to broadening and deepening our sustainable investment value proposition.”
