Asset Management

Inside Abrdn’s overhaul of its sustainability team: ‘It has lost its place’

Abrdn’s sustainable investment group has struggled to reach its ambitions

Senior figures such as CEO Stephen Bird and chief sustainability officer Amanda Young have left Abrdn this year
Senior figures such as CEO Stephen Bird and chief sustainability officer Amanda Young have left Abrdn this year

To ride the green investing wave, in March 2022, Abrdn unveiled a new ‘sustainability group’ — a five-strong squad of senior leaders, each with a unique area of expertise.

Amanda Young, a 20-year ESG industry veteran, was promoted to chief sustainability officer and was tasked with spearheading the £508bn asset manager in what it billed as an “evolution” in its approach to environmental and social issues. 

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