OSSIAM, the smart beta investment specialist and affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, announced March 13 the appointment Clarisse Simonek as head of Responsible Investment and Sustainability.

The new role, which will report directly to the company’s CEO, Bruno Poulin, consolidates Ossiam’s commitment to integrating ESG within its funds and across its operations.

Simonek will lead the firm’s responsible investment strategy and related product development, as well as the company’s sustainability initiatives.

Ossiam also announced that Philippe Chanzy, the company’s CFO and CRO, has been appointed as deputy CEO. Chanzy has had overall responsibility for Ossiam’s finance and risk management since 2010.

Simonek has worked for asset owners, fund managers and social enterprises across Europe and the Americas and has held executive and non-executive management roles.

She joins Ossiam from the UK’s Local Pensions Partnership's (LPP) Investment Strategy department, which advises pension trustees on asset allocation and responsible investment, including climate risk.

She is a trustee of social enterprises and runs a professional network for aspiring young pension trustees. She is also the academic advisor to the CFA Institute UK on its ESG Investing curriculum.

Previously, Simonek led the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)'s initiative with investors to develop tools for responsible investment; and worked for Mirova, another Natixis Investment Managers affiliate.