Commentary

The ESG brain drain is happening

Senior sustainability professionals — bogged down by regulation and a lack of support —  are quitting for cushy consultancy gigs

Can green finance stem a flight of talent?
Can green finance stem a flight of talent? Photo: Chris Ratcliffe/Getty Images

Neil Farrell is the founder of ESG recruitment firm Farrell Associates

There’s a significant recent trend of senior talent leaving sustainable finance to take on a portfolio of advisory work or set up their own consultancy.

This is potentially due to a lack of backing internally at the companies they are leaving, as well as an increase in regulation and a lack of interesting new strategic projects to work on internally. This is leaving senior talent feeling overworked and demotivated.

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