Mamadou-Abou Sarr has been named global head of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing at Northern Trust Asset Management, a newly created role designed to meet increasing demand for responsible investing strategies in markets worldwide.

As global head of ESG-Asset Management, Sarr will lead ESG innovation and product development across Northern Trust's asset class capabilities. He will focus on expanding into new opportunities for ESG growth in the global institutional and wealth management markets.

ESG investors look for companies whose practices promote environmental stewardship, social justice, human rights, diversity, consumer protection or corporate governance. Northern Trust has approximately US$58.4 billion in assets under management across a globally diverse set of ESG screened strategies and recently launched three innovative ESG funds in Europe which have reached the US$1 billion mark collectively.

Based in Abu-Dhabi, Sarr will report to Wayne Bowers, head of asset management-EMEA & APAC, and will work closely with the global equity strategist team, providing thought leadership and comprehensive investment solutions across the spectrum of equity, including Northern Trust's growing factor-based engineered equity solutions. He will also collaborate with Multi-Manager Investments on outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) solutions that include ESG considerations.

Sarr has been senior product specialist for global index management, with a strong focus on ESG solutions, since joining Northern Trust in 2011. As global head of ESG, he will lead a cross-functional working group to develop solutions and thought leadership for the ESG practice and will work interdependently with the CSR practice led by Connie Lindsey, head of corporate social responsibility and global diversity and inclusion at Northern Trust.

Sarr has more than 10 years of investment experience, including roles at HSBC Global Asset Management, Morgan Stanley Investment Management and other firms prior to Northern Trust.

He received his bachelor's degree in economics from the Université Paris Sud-Faculté Jean Monnet in Paris, France, and holds a master in international project management from the European School of Management (ESCP Europe), Paris. Additionally he holds the Islamic Finance Qualification (IFQ) from the Chartered Institute from Securities & Investment (CISI). He is an associate of the Chartered Institute from Securities & Investment (ACSI) and a member of the CFA UK Institute.