ThomasLloyd appoints Mike Craston as Non-Executive Chair

Zurich, 4 July 2022. ThomasLloyd, an impact investment solutions provider, advisor and asset manager, has appointed leading investment industry figure, Mike Craston to its Board of Directors, as its new independent Non-Executive Chair.

Mike has a long and distinguished career in the investment industry. He was appointed Chair of the board of Aviva Investors in September 2017 and is currently Chair of the Aviva Investors Nomination Committee.

Mike is also Chair of Railpen, which manages the UK railways pension schemes, and Chair of the London CIV Board. He was previously a member of Aviva Investors Global Executive Committee where he led the client solutions functions. Prior to this he held a number of roles at Legal & General Investment management including that of CEO America and Asia, as well as senior positions at Aegon Asset Management, Scottish Equitable and Schroders.

Michael Sieg, ThomasLloyd’s Group Chief Executive commented: “We are privileged to have attracted someone of Mike’s undoubted reputation, calibre, and industry experience to this crucial role. With his unique knowledge of both investment firms, and the investor community, Mike will bring an independent and different perspective to our Board, whilst also providing constructive challenge to our executive team. At a time of unprecedented growth for the firm, we believe his appointment demonstrates ThomasLloyd’s unrelenting commitment to the highest standards of corporate governance.

Mike Craston, ThomasLloyd’s Non-Executive Chair commented: “I am excited to have joined such a progressive investment organisation, one that is recognised as having made a tangible impact on people’s lives, and communities, and in the fight to reduce global CO2 emissions. I am looking forward to utilising my experience of the industry-at-large, and Board governance more specifically, to support ThomasLloyd through this important growth and transformational phase.”

ThomasLloyd is a pioneer in impact investing in high-growth and emerging markets in Asia, having been investing in and financing real assets across the full asset life cycle of development, construction, and operation of sustainable infrastructure projects since 2011. In this time, the business has grown rapidly, diversifying into new markets for real asset investments and expanding its product offering to reach a wider range of investors seeking to sustainably deploy their capital.

More recently, the firm successfully listed its ThomasLloyd Energy Impact Trust on the premium segment of London Stock Exchange’s (LSE) main market. The Trust, which has attracted prominent British and European institutional and sovereign investors including the UK Government via its MOBILIST initiative, was awarded the Green Economy Mark by the LSE. It is to date, the first dedicated offering on the exchange providing investors with the opportunity to invest directly in sustainable energy infrastructure assets in fast-growing and emerging economies in Asia.

ThomasLloyd is an accredited partner of the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and an authorised partner of the European Investment Bank. The firm is also a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investments (UN PRI), supports various initiatives for sustainable investment such as the Asia Corporate Governance Association (ACGA), Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC) Un the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), Climate-Related Financial Disclosures Task Force (TCFD) and the Swiss Sustainable Finance (SSF).

Michael Sieg concluded: “The impact investment market continues to grow exponentially and our focus on investment in sustainable infrastructure in fast growing and emerging countries in Asia is at the epicentre of this. We continue to invest in world class talent, and those who share our vision. We have diversified our people base, broadened our investment offering, and undergone a significant digital transformation. We believe we are now in the strongest possible position to capitalise on our growth, the current market opportunity – and most importantly, to meet investor demand. Mike’s appointment is in line with our ambition to move this business to the next level.”

Press release (PDF): ThomasLloyd appoints Mike Craston as Non-Executive Chair