Sustainable Investing in Practice - by Simon Smiles & James Purcell (Paperback)

About the Book

Delve into the realities of sustainable investing and discover how to make Environmental, Social and Governance investing work for you with this practical guide offering insightful analysis, expert commentary and progressive solutions.

Book Synopsis

Sustainable Investing in Practice provides a pragmatic steer for how finance professionals can make the realities of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing work for them in practice.

The book delivers a balanced overview, covering topics such as ESG ratings, data and disclosure and multi-asset portfolios. It neither blindly praises or criticises activities, but rather explains the incentives and compromises that have occurred to reach the current point, reviewing both successes and failures in sustainable investing. By offering a realistic account of what is working and what is not, readers of this book will be given a unique and deep insight into the current environment and a suite of thought-provoking ideas they may carry forward in their own careers.

Sustainable Investing in Practice features practical examples and interviews in each chapter, from expert commentators such as Paul Polman KBE, Richard Curtis OBE, and Gillian Tett. It provides useful ideas and plans for how to take sustainable finance forward while balancing credibility and commerciality in equal measure. This is a must-read for every finance professional, investor and regulator-whether they are seeking to fast track their careers, bring commercial and sustainable learning to their organization, or upgrade their understanding of this crucial but complex topic.

Review Quotes

"A compelling read for those interested in sustainable investing and how it can be implemented in practice."-- "Axel A. Weber, Former President, Deutsche Bundesbank"

"A refreshing change from theoretical papers. The authors are seasoned practitioners."-- "Mark Haefele, Chief Investment Officer, UBS Global Wealth Management"

"A thoughtful and visionary book authored by two of the most established leaders in sustainable investing. It is insightful and inspiring while witty and entertaining. A must-read!"-- "Mirjam Staub-Bisang, Country Manager, BlackRock Switzerland"

About the Author

Simon Smiles was a Group Managing Director at UBS and the Chief Investment Officer for Ultra High Net Worth Clients, where he established and ran the wealth management sustainable and impact investing teams. An IIF Future Leader, WEF Young Global Leader and member of the Milken Institute's Young Leaders Circle, he appeared regularly in global financial media speaking about sustainability and investments. Before moving to Zurich, he worked in Sydney and Hong Kong and earned a PhD in economics from the Australian National University.

James Purcell is the Group Head of Sustainable Frameworks at Credit Suisse. He and his team coordinate the firm's approach to sustainable investing and lending. Previously, he was the Group Head of Sustainable, Thematic and Impact Investing at Quintet Private Bank, a privately held bank operating out of 50 cities across Europe. Earlier in his career he was a managing director at UBS, where he spent more than a decade in roles based in London, Hong Kong, and Zurich.