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

WINNER: Choice Reviews - Outstanding Academic Title, 2024

The compelling promise of progressing profits, purpose and the planet is what drives sustainable investing. Yet the field is also packed with challenges and pitfalls for the finance industry.

Sustainable Investing in Practice provides a pragmatic steer for how finance professionals can navigate the realities of ESG investing so they can achieve the impact they desire. It addresses the obvious problems - a lack of common standards, opaque vocabulary, irrelevant data - that investors face. And it explains the skewed incentives and compromises that have held sustainable investing back. Yet it does not dwell on obstacles and defeat. Instead, it shows readers how to develop sustainable strategies and improve outcomes, covering critical topics such as ESG ratings, data and disclosure policies and multi-asset portfolios, while also documenting successful practices and pointing out how to modify inadequate ones.

Packed full of insightful examples, analysis and interviews from expert commentators such as Paul Polman KBE, Richard Curtis OBE, and Gillian Tett, the book provides useful ideas and plans for how to take sustainable finance forward while balancing credibility and commerciality in equal measure. Written by two pioneering leaders within sustainable investing, 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. It will also be of interest to students taking modules on sustainable finance.

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.