Stockholm (NordSIP) – Maria Nordqvist has been appointed Chief ESG Specialist at Danske Bank Asset Management (AM). She will be a part of the Advisory Capabilities & Concepts team and will start in her new role in August 2025.
Looking Forward to a New and Ambitious Challenge
“I am proud to be joining Danske Bank Asset Management as Chief ESG Specialist. Their clear strategy and sharp investment team mean that they are ahead of the curve in terms of both capital growth and investment performance. At the same time, sustainability is a central part of Danske’s strategy, with over 100 CESGA-certified investment experts and a strong focus on integrating sustainability into investment decisions,” Nordqvist says.
“Danske is in a strong growth phase and has increased its assets under management from €103 billion to €118 billion over the past year as part of its ambitious strategy to reach €148 billion by 2028. Being part of an organisation with high ambitions, strong values and a clear strategy for the future feels fantastic and I am looking forward to taking on this new challenge,” Nordqvist adds.
More Scale for Stronger Impact
Nordqvist joins Danske Bank AM from Lannebo Fonder where she worked for almost 19 years, starting as a fund administrator before leaving as Head of Sustainability, following positions as Head of Corporate Governance and Head of Responsible Investing.
“At Lannebo Fonder, there has always been a strong culture of trust in employees, which contributed to both personal growth and the development of a highly successful and profitable firm. One key lesson I’ve learned is that when people are trusted and given responsibility, most of them rise to the occasion and grow – both professionally and personally,” Nordqvist tells NordSIP.
“At Danske Bank AM, I hope to make an even greater impact within a larger organization, where more capital provides greater opportunities to drive meaningful change. I also hope to contribute to making Danske Bank AM even more successful and profitable,” Nordqvist explains.
A Shift Towards What Matters
Discussing the future of sustainable investing and the ongoing pushback against ESG, Nordqvist considers the broader journey investors and regulators have been on for the last decade.
“The ESG pushback is, in many ways, a natural consequence of its rapid growth. Initially, ESG expanded quickly but was often vague. Then came regulation—necessary, but sometimes blunt and misaligned—which led to frustration and, ultimately, pushback. At the same time, it’s a sign that ESG has become mainstream enough to provoke real debate,” Nordqvist argues.
“Going forward, I believe we’ll see a shift toward focusing on what truly makes a difference, rather than trying to address everything under the sustainability umbrella. That evolution is not just necessary, it’s healthy for the credibility and long-term success of sustainable investing,” Nordqvist concludes.
