The Financial Transparency Coalition (FTC) has announced the appointment of Savior Mwambwa as interim director while Kala Vairavamoorthy is the new executive director of the International Water Association
APPOINTMENT OF THE MONTH
The Financial Transparency Coalition (FTC) has announced the appointment of Savior Mwambwa as interim director. He joins the FTC after a number of years in civil society, most recently as the international tax campaign manager for ActionAid International.
Mwambwa started off working in advocacy and campaigning roles with NGOs in Zambia, his first role being researcher with WaterAid Zambia. “I went on to work in regional and global roles to challenge global financial systems and structures of power and highlight how these affect local people and local policies and politics,” he explains.
He was drawn to this sector by “the commonality across the world when one looks at the structures of power and people’s determination and willingness to want to do something together to change their immediate circumstances”.
In his new role he intends to help increase support for more actors to work on illicit financial issues and get the policy and political changes needed to enable countries act against Illicit financial flows.
The International Water Association (IWA) has announced Kala Vairavamoorthy as its new executive director. Vairavamoorthy, an internationally recognised water resource management expert, will be based in the IWA’s global operations office in The Hague, Netherlands.
He joins IWA from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI, where he was the deputy director general for research. Prior to IWMI, he was the founding dean of the Patel College of Global Sustainability, and a tenured professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering at the University of South Florida. He has published extensively and has a strong international profile, working closely with the World Bank, African Development Bank, UN-Habitat, Global Water Partnership and the European Union.
“IWA can help the international water sector navigate a period of rapid change, and its membership is well placed to provide both innovative and well-tested solutions,” says Vairavamoorthy. “[It] can also provide critical help to emerging economies in their quest for sustainable water management.”
Commenting on Vairavamoorthy’s appointment, Diane d’Arras, IWA president, said: “Professor Vairavamoorthy brings many years of high-level international experience. His wide scientific, managerial and cultural experience will be invaluable in shaping the IWA’s future strategy. In particular, how we as a global network of water professionals can be instrumental in achieving the water-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Global investment management firm T. Rowe Price has hired Maria Elena Drew as director of research, responsible investing. Drew joins the firm from Goldman Sachs Asset Management, where she worked for nine years as an equity analyst, portfolio manager and ESG specialist.
Evelyn Hartwick is to join the treasury department of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in November. She is currently a senior financial officer at IFC. AIIB is a multilateral development bank that aims to support the building of infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region.
Renewable energy technology company Enphase Energy has promoted Badri Kothandaraman from chief operating officer to president and CEO.
Zurich Insurance Group has promoted Johanna Köb to head of responsible investment. She was previously responsible investment analyst.
Itske Lulof has been appointed director energy and climate at Triodos Investment Management. She was previously fund manager of Triodos Groenfonds.
The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation has appointed Jonny Oates as senior political adviser. Oates was deputy director of communications in 10 Downing Street and then chief of staff to the deputy prime minister during the coalition government.
UN Environment has appointed Ma Jun as special advisor on sustainable finance. Ma joins from the People’s Bank of China, where he was chief economist of the research bureau.
ESG-focused investment manager Pax World Management has hired Melissa Platner as vice president, institutional business development, a newly created role. Platner was previously a VP and senior consultant relations liaison with SSGA.
Eva Axelsson is the new head of sustainability analysis at Swedbank Robur. She joins from KPA Pension, where she has been sustainability manager for the past five years.
Ellgia Recycling has hired Gareth Marshall as general manager. He was previously operations director for Environmental Waste Controls.
Mark Henderson has joined sustainable energy financier and operator Gridserve as chief investment officer. He was previously with Temporis Capital.
Martin Capstick will become managing director of the North London Waste Authority in December. He is currently with the Department of Transport.
Mickey Green has been appointed managing director for Somerset Waste Partnership. He was previously strategic manager for commissioning development at Somerset County Council.
Andusia Recovered Fuels has hired Mark Terrell as general manager. He was previously principal consultant with Ricardo Energy & Environment.
As it increases its focus on sustainable investments, Liontrust has appointed a new non-executive director to its board. Sophia Tickell is a founding partner of think tank Meteos Limited.