Buzz: Transfer to editor

𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.
And in 2026, no one’s got the budget or patience for formulaic, cookie-cutter reporting. So what to do?

In this new episode of One Step Ahead, hosts Sasja Beslik and James Osborne sit down with Mike Tyrrell, founder and editor of SRI-CONNECT, to unpack one of the biggest blind spots in today’s ESG landscape: the gap between what companies produce and what investors actually need.

From breaking internal silos to reaching individual decision-makers, Mike explains why sustainability communication must become more targeted, commercial and value-driven, especially in a cost-constrained environment.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:

• Companies must stop treating “investors” as a single, homogenous group - influence sits with specific individuals, not the market at large
• Static sustainability reports rarely deliver value unless paired with clear narratives and targeted outreach
• Internal credibility is essential: sustainability teams must rebuild trust by focusing on value creation, not compliance
• 2026 will reward discipline, commercial relevance and stronger private communication channels

Highlights from FY2025:

– Best safety performance in more than ten years

– 2% reduction in energy use

– 11.4% drop in operational GHG emissions

– Three-year water and waste reduction targets met in just one year

– EcoVadis supplier assessments on track

– More than 9,000 colleagues trained in Smiths Excellence fundamentals

– Strong colleague engagement with business ethics

– 28% of senior management are women

– Smiths Day generated hundreds of volunteer hours

– Second round of grants awarded by the Smiths Group Foundation to STEM and sustainability focused non-profits

"Marking the two-year anniversary of the publication of the TNFD recommendations in September 2023, our inaugural Status Report demonstrates significant progress in market practice and standard setter engagement on nature-related issues.

As this report suggests, mindsets in business and finance are beginning to shift. Climate change and nature loss are now widely acknowledged as challenges that demand an integrated response. There is also growing recognition that while the salience of nature-related issues will vary across sectors and be specific to business models, evidence about the financial materiality of nature-related issues is now compelling."

1. Banking / Regulation (Central Bank)
Abigail Ng – appointed Chief Sustainability Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)

Organisation / sector: MAS – Singapore’s central bank & financial regulator (banking / sustainable finance).

Date: Announced 29 September 2025.

Move: Internal move. Ng has been at MAS for ~20 years, most recently as Department Head, Markets Policy & Consumer Department. She now becomes MAS’ dedicated CSO, taking over from Gillian Tan (who previously combined CSO with an Assistant MD role).

ESG angle: She will lead MAS’ sustainability strategy, including initiatives like the Finance for Net Zero Action Plan and the Singapore-Asia Taxonomy for sustainable finance.

2. Asset Management
Costas Papamantellos – appointed Head of Energy Transition Investments, Nuveen

Organisation / sector: Nuveen – global investment manager (asset management / energy transition infrastructure).

Date: Announced 8 October 2025.

Move: Joins Nuveen’s Clean Energy Infrastructure team as Head of Energy Transition Investments after 17+ years at RWE, where he was Managing Director & Head of Energy Transition Investments and Chair & CEO of RWE Renewables Hellas.

ESG angle: Role is explicitly dedicated to energy transition investing within Nuveen’s new global infrastructure platform, combining clean energy, diversified and digital infrastructure, and green real-estate finance.

3. Alternatives / Asset Management (Private Equity & Credit)
Jaycee Pribulsky – appointed Partner & Chief Sustainability Officer, Apollo

Organisation / sector: Apollo Global Management – global alternatives manager (private equity, credit, real assets).

Date: Announced 20 October 2025.

Move: Pribulsky moves from Nike, where she was Chief Sustainability Officer and previously led sustainable manufacturing & sourcing and global footwear sourcing. Before that she worked on the TCFD at Bloomberg.

ESG angle: As Partner & CSO, she will lead Apollo’s firm-wide sustainability strategy: integrating ESG into investment processes, identifying material risks/opportunities across asset classes, and using sustainability as a tool for long-term value creation and risk management.

4. Corporate – Energy / Utilities
Rhian Kelly – joins SSE as Chief Sustainability Officer

Organisation / sector: SSE plc – UK listed energy utility (corporate / energy & infrastructure).

Date: Joined week of 5 November 2025 (SSE announcement dated 5 November 2025).

Move: Kelly moves from National Grid, where she was Chief Sustainability Officer since 2022. SSE has appointed her CSO to replace Rachel McEwen, who held the role for around 18 years.

ESG angle: CSO for a FTSE-100 utility at a pivotal moment in the clean energy transition, with a remit to drive SSE’s climate-focused strategy and ensure environmental and social benefits from its growth in low-carbon infrastructure.

5. Sustainability Consultancy / Advisory (Research-heavy ESG Services)
Jessica Francisco – appointed CEO, Longevity Partners

Organisation / sector: Longevity Partners – real-asset-focused energy & sustainability consultancy (advisory / analytics for real estate & infrastructure).

Date: Announced 16 October 2025.

Move: Francisco becomes CEO after serving as Chief Sustainability Officer at Cushman & Wakefield, and earlier as Head of Sustainability at Arcadis U.S., plus senior roles at 3Degrees and Pacific Gas & Electric.

ESG angle: Longevity Partners works on green building certifications, energy audits, ESG data reporting/management, and climate-resilience strategies for real estate and infrastructure clients 

6. NGO / Multi-Stakeholder Sustainability Platform
Emilio Tenuta – elected Chairperson of the Board, Tandem Global

Organisation / sector: Tandem Global – NGO working at the intersection of business, climate, water and nature (NGO / sustainability network).

Date: Election announced 19 June 2025 

Move: Tenuta, SVP & Chief Sustainability Officer at Ecolab, is elected Chairperson of Tandem Global’s Board, following a merger of the World Environment Center and Wildlife Habitat Council into Tandem Global.

ESG angle: Brings a corporate CSO into NGO leadership to guide strategy for scaling corporate action on nature, climate and water 

There was a further fall in issuance of new green, social, sustainability and sustainability-linked (GSSS) bonds in 3Q25, reflecting continued uncertainty regarding interest rates, trade dynamics and regulatory changes.

Issuance of green bonds was 46% lower than in 2Q25, but more sustainability and transition-labelled bonds were issued.

China’s onshore labelled bond market has rebounded from its 2024 trough, with issuance reaching CNY1,014 billion in the first three quarters of 2025, already surpassing the full-year total for 2024.

The recovery has been driven by falling Chinese-yuan interest rates, which have supported strong growth in financial bonds and modest gains in corporate bond issuance.

This report highlights how Sustainable Fitch approaches assessing different green and low-carbon technologies under entity- and framework-level assessments for its ESG Ratings and ESG Scores.

An overview of the sustainability impact of entities and ESG-labelled bonds from Asia-Pacific.

Local  market,  regulatory  and  economic  development conditions are key drivers in the sustainability performance of APAC entities, with differences between developed and emerging markets.

There is a gap between APAC and other regions in alignment with international best practice for the selection of eligible sustainability projects, the setting of sustainability-linked bond targets and key performance indicators(KPIs), and post-issuance reporting

Includes:

• Sustainable Fitch Launches APAC Market Coverage
• Entities Perform Better on Social Impact
• Environmental Performance Affected by Local Market Standard
• APAC GSSS Bonds Lag Other Regions in Transparency and Additionality

In the US, the backlash to ESG investing is so intense that ESG investors may sometimes feel like outcasts. Indeed, experiments with startup founders and venture capitalists in the US show that there is something like an ESG segregation that reduces access to capital for ESG startups. But this segregation can be overcome.

Even though there is no empirical evidence that ESG investing reduces returns or corporate profits, the notion that ESG investors sacrifice shareholder value for their values is one of the most stubbornly repeated prejudices against these investments.

The survey captured responses from over 500 asset owners of a variety of types, sizes, and geographies and covers:

• Disruption and uncertainty drive asset owners to rethink asset allocation
• ESG reexamined and reaffirmed
• Shaping climate strategy: Global trends and local nuances
• Stewardship: A key lever in climate ESG implementation
• Regulatory reality check
• Asset owners take charge: ESG implementation and priorities for improvement

In this episode, Hugh talks "to the evergreen Sean Kidney, CEO and Co-founder of the Climate Bonds Initiative, about how the green bond market grew from an idea to trillions in assets, and what needs to happen next."

How far can we call green bonds a success when CO₂ emissions continue to rise?

Don’t miss:

• How Sean’s mission to cut financing costs for key societal issues was a catalyst
• Why “Follow the Money” is the driving principle behind Climate Bonds
• Where the only reported green bond scam happened (you’ll be surprised!)
• How simple net-zero planning incentives could turbocharge the green bond market for property development

• Access via Spotify
• Access via Apple

Video interview

In this Hardman Talks interview, Keith Hiscock speaks with Yingheng Chen, one of Hardman & Co’s experienced analysts, about her latest note 'Feeding the future', which explores why investors should pay close attention to the agri sector. Ying discusses how global trends such as population growth, shifting diets and climate volatility are reshaping the food ecosystem, driving demand for innovation and long-term capital. She highlights where investment is already flowing – from cold chain logistics and water efficiency to regenerative farming and traceability – and how private credit and blended finance are stepping up to fill funding gaps, particularly in emerging markets. For investors seeking opportunities aligned with sustainability, resilience and essential real-world impact, this conversation offers a compelling look at how capital is helping to secure the world’s food future.

Research note summary

The case for food system investment

Megatrends, at a very basic level, dictate the “direction of travel” for economic, social and political activity; investments made on this basis will receive powerful trend support. Today, the transformation of the global food system represents one such structural force. As demographic expansion, rising income and growing climate pressure converge, food sustainability as a strategic, long-term investment theme is no longer a forward-looking concept but a current market reality.

Why now?

The global food system has been, and continues to, undergo a structural transformation driven by population growth, climate change and the rise of a larger, wealthier global population.

Download research note

The ESG jobs market hasn’t cooled—it’s matured. Fresh data from the last quarter shows steady demand shifting towards practical, standards-driven roles focused on reporting aligned to ISSB/ESRS, climate risk, carbon accounting and data/assurance. Titles may be changing, but the skills story is clear. Here’s what’s moving now and areas employers and candidates could home in on next. Below is a summary of my full article posted on LinkedIn (link below).

1) Trends

Momentum in ESG‑related employment remained steady through late summer and autumn. The UK’s ONS update in July 2025 anchored the opportunity with the latest official green‑job counts. Recruiter data showed a firm ‘September surge’ into October, while the UK’s national green‑energy plan points to roughly 400,000 jobs over five years—fuel for the wider green‑skills pipeline.

Across Europe, ESDE 2025 highlighted a stubborn skills gap and the need to widen participation. In finance, some teams are downplaying ‘ESG’ labels, but demand is intact for the underlying capabilities: risk, reporting, compliance and data—now taught in more technical, standards‑aligned curricula.

2) Training & Qualifications

Hiring managers want reporting‑ready talent. The CFA’s rebranded Sustainable Investing Certificate leans more into data and ISSB. ISSB’s free e‑learning on IFRS S1/S2 plus a wave of short courses give candidates credible, structured proof of competence.

Finance‑to‑sustainability pathways are solidifying via ACCA and executive programmes (e.g., ESG data/reporting). Portfolios with hands‑on disclosures, auditable data and working knowledge of carbon accounting, LCA and climate risk are set rise to the top.

3) Who’s Hiring

Large corporates with public sustainability commitments remain magnets for talent, backed by sizeable ESG and supplier programmes. Financial services—especially London—continue to seek out skills in risk, compliance, climate data and sustainable finance, even as titles evolve.

Specialist recruiters still see a strong pull for carbon accounting, climate risk, ESG reporting and renewables. Senior practitioners who can translate standards into metrics, systems and board‑ready narratives are the rarest—and most in demand.

4) Recruiting Pain Points

The tight spots are practical and standards‑driven and relate to ISSB/ESRS reporting, data/assurance, climate risk and carbon accounting. General shortages have eased since 2024, but these niches still mean long time‑to‑hire and counter‑offer periods are being seen.

EU participation gaps are a structural brake. Title drift can hide real demand—so there is a need for employers and candidates alike to screen for competence, not ESG keywords.

5) What Employers Could Do Now

Keep it simple: hire where scarcity and impact meet, test for proof of work, and grow your own pipeline. Below is a crisp playbook employers can act on going into 2026:

• Target the bottlenecks: ISSB/ESRS reporting, climate risk, carbon accounting, data & assurance, supply‑chain due diligence.
• Ask for proof, not promises: sample disclosures, audit trails, dashboards; add a 30‑minute practical case to your process.
• Upskill fast: sponsor CFA Sustainable Investing, ISSB S1/S2 e‑learning and ACCA sustainability modules—paired with on‑the‑job tooling (data audit, LCA).
• Widen the funnel: apprenticeships, returnships and mid‑career reskilling; actively reach under‑represented groups flagged by ESDE 2025.
• Brand what counts: publish specific targets, progress and procurement standards—skip the buzzwords and general ‘we are all about sustainability’ blurb.
• Measure and pay for scarcity: track time‑to‑hire and quality‑of‑hire for these roles; offer premiums where the business case is clear.

Sources 

ONS UK Green Jobs (Jul 2025); UK Green Energy Plan (Oct 2025); ESDE 2025 (Sept 2025); Wave Q3 2025 & recruiter updates; CFA (Apr 2025); ISSB/IFRS e‑learning; ACCA ESG modules; sustainability leaders ranking (Sept 2025).

Annual sustainability report covering decarbonisation strategy, governance and 2024 performance across global logistics and related platforms.

Updated net-zero pathway (Scopes 1–3) and execution model across operations, value chain and commercial levers; SBTi-aligned.

Download here

A Digital inclusion summary is also published here