6 February 2023
CCLA today announces the appointment of Tessa Younger as Stewardship Lead for the environment. Tessa joined CCLA last month in a newly created role to add capacity and momentum to the significant pioneering work undertaken by climate heavyweight, Helen Wildsmith and CCLA’s wider sustainability team.
Tessa will lead CCLA’s ‘Better Environment’ work, managing all stewardship on environmental issues, including climate change and nature, with the aim of driving clear improvements at the companies in which CCLA invests. She will work alongside Helen Wildsmith and report to James Corah, Head of Sustainability at CCLA.
Previously, Tessa spent many years at PIRC Ltd - Europe’s largest independent corporate governance and shareholder advisory consultancy - where she most recently held the position of Head of Engagement. At PIRC, Tessa was responsible for developing active ownership strategies for asset owner clients, steering engagement with listed corporates, and effecting market-wide change through the promotion of strong policy stances, with a particular focus on climate risk and carbon emissions. Notably, she ran the engagement programme for the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) whose members comprise most of the local authority pension funds in the UK. During this time, Tessa also worked closely with CCLA while collaborating on investor initiatives and campaigns, including leading on a ‘Say on Climate’ initiative to encourage FTSE companies to put their climate transition plans to a shareholder vote.
Dr James Corah, Head of Sustainability at CCLA said:
As an asset manager, it is crucial that we use our financial power and ownership rights to push for positive change on the issues that matter, including climate change and natural capital. The scale of the environmental challenges we face are extraordinary and despite significant attention from investors, there is much more work to do. At CCLA, we drive progress through engagement to influence and alter corporate behaviour - we want to achieve net zero portfolios through real-world actions, not just transactions. But doing this takes time, resource and expertise. I am therefore delighted that Tessa has joined us to help drive this agenda forward – her track record in active ownership and of leading industry coalitions on climate is exemplary and will support us greatly in our ongoing efforts to protect the natural environment and bring investors together to build a better, healthier, natural world.
Majority owned by its not-for-profit clients, CCLA has a long record of instigating positive change through corporate and policy engagement. Pioneering ‘Aiming for A’ in 2012, a precursor for Climate Action 100+, CCLA brought together the investment industry in a first-of-its-kind collaboration, pressing companies to take action on climate change. In 2019, CCLA worked with the UK and the Canadian governments to launch the Powering Past Coal finance principles to restrict financial services for new unabated coal power projects and to phase out existing capacity. Over the years, CCLA has continued to work with companies to expedite action on the carbon transition and to provide investors with a ‘Say on Climate’ while also working with the UK government to provide advice to policy makers on climate issues.
Ms Tessa Younger said:
CCLA is not your average investor. Its work over the years to engage companies and governments on a whole range of issues, but notably on climate change, is almost unparalleled. Having worked alongside CCLA in a collaborative manner while I was at PIRC, I have long respected their integrity and their unswerving commitment to delivering real-world change. I am delighted to join such a dynamic leader whose values I share and to accelerate progress and deliver impact in collaboration with colleagues, clients and our industry peers.
This appointment is the latest in a series of senior hires CCLA has made to its sustainability team. Late last year, CCLA announced the appointment of Dame Sara Thornton (Former UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner) as a Consultant on Modern Slavery and Dr Martin Buttle to lead CCLA’s ‘Better Work’ stream focused on ensuring fair and sustainable working conditions.
Press contact
Miranda Barham: miranda@mirandabarham.com or +44 (0)7899 030304