Zurich-based asset management firm Vontobel announced today the appointment of Elena Tedesco as Portfolio Manager for its newly launched Vontobel Fund II- Global Impact Equities.

The new fund will invest in companies that are helping to address critical challenges such as pollution and climate change, resource scarcity, food distribution, population growth, insufficient healthcare, rising inequalities, financial exclusion and illiteracy. Vontobel has identified eight investable areas for the fund, including four focused on environmental themes, and four targeting societal change. The focus areas include clean energy, clean water, sustainable cities, innovative industry and technology, good health and wellbeing, sustainable food, responsible consumption and equal opportunities.

Vontobel stated that the fund, which qualifies as article 9 under SFDR regulations, aims to provide “double dividend” for investors by investing in companies which contribute to the advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets as well as delivering attractive performance.

Tedesco joins Vontobel after working for nearly 20 years at Federated Hermes and Hermes Investment Management, most recently serving as Director, Co-portfolio manager for ESG strategies, Global Emerging Markets Equities, where she was responsible for developing the investment approach to sustainability and ESG issues for Federated Hermes’ emerging markets equity strategies.

Dan Scott, Head of Impact & Thematics at Vontobel, said:

“Elena is well-known in the industry as an expert on sustainability and has been at the vanguard of ESG for the last two decades. Her strong background and experience in broader ESG issues as well as specifically in impact investing will play a key role in further strengthening Vontobel’s expertise in the impact space to generate value for our clients.”

Tedesco added:

“We believe the increasing demand for innovative solutions that contribute to a better environment and societal change will lead to market share gains, pricing power and rising stock prices. Moreover, such companies are less exposed to tightening regulation than their competitors. We are committed to creating real and tangible change through this positive impact fund, including continued engagement with companies on the most pressing societal and environmental issues.”