Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

Lipper Alpha Insight - Fund Manager Chat


Jan 24, 2018

Kames Capital is one of the UK's pioneers of ethical and Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) investing having had a franchise in this space for 27 years. They have recently launched their Kames Global Sustainable Equity Fund as part of their wider ESG offering.

In this video, Jake Moeller, head of Lipper UK and Ireland Research at Thomson Reuters speaks with  fund manager Craig Bonthron and Head of ESG, Ryan Smith who outline where "sustainability" fits within the ESG framework and its importance to investors.

About Craig Bonthron and Ryan Smith

Craig Bonthron is an investment manager in the Kames equities team, responsible for co-managing global equities portfolios. He joined Kames in 2014 from SWIP, where he was investment director in global equities and was the joint fund manager of the SWIP Global Sustainable Equity fund and the SWIP Global Islamic Equity Fund. In addition Craig also had analysis responsibilities for the tech, energy and utility sectors.

Prior to SWIP, he was a portfolio manager at Kleinwort Benson Investors, a member of the global environmental equity team, and co-manager of the KBI Global Water Fund. Craig has a 1st Class honours degree in Building Surveying, an MSc with Distinction in Business Information Technology Systems from Strathclyde Business School, and has completed level one of the CFA programme. He has 15 years’ industry experience.

Ryan Smith is Head of ESG Research. He joined Kames Capital in October 2000 as an SRI analyst and was appointed to his current position in September 2002. He has 16 years’ industry experience. His role involves managing the team that conducts the ESG screening process for Kames' Responsible Investing funds.

Ryan’s team also provides corporate governance screening and research for all equity investments, and conducts research into environmental and social issues.

Before joining Kames, he worked as an environmental chemist for Severn Trent Water. Ryan has an MSc in Environmental Chemistry from Nottingham Trent University, and is a CFA charter holder.

 


Sign up for weekly updates on fund markets and investment opportunities here.