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Green finance expertise in short supply in mainland China: CFA Institute

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Green finance expertise in short supply in mainland China: CFA Institute

China lacks both an adequate supply and a pipeline of finance professionals with expertise in environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues as demand for such people surges amid a boom in sustainable investing, according to the CFA Institute.

China is struggling to develop ESG analysts, strategists and executives to fill the rapidly expanding demand in the finance market, the organisation said in a report. The government, enterprises and universities should work together to build a structured and standardised system for cultivating ESG talent, it added.

“As ESG is embraced by more companies in China, the need for the knowledge, skills and capabilities to deliver on their ESG-related goals has created a massive gap in terms of the thirst for ESG and sustainability knowledge,” said David Zhang, China head at the CFA Institute.

Driven by the global “do-good” investment boom and China’s climate goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060, the country is seeing a rapid surge in demand for the skills and talent to do sustainability-related work, especially in the financial market. But unclear career positioning, a lack of training opportunities and a shortage of career guidance are inhibiting the development of such talent, according to the CFA Institute.
The Wujing Power Station is seen in Shanghai on January 24, 2024. Photo: Bloomberg

Even professionals who are in ESG-related jobs today lack the requisite expertise to do their jobs, with 60 per cent of ESG professionals having received no relevant training, the organisation found.

Between May 2022 and April 2023, the number of active ESG-related job postings in China increased by 64.5 per cent compared with a year earlier, according to a report released by China’s largest job recruitment site Liepin last July. The number of applicants increased by more than 150 per cent in that span, as salaries 30 per cent higher than those for average financial jobs drew candidates’ interest.

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However, qualified people with sufficient ESG-related expertise remain in short supply, as fewer than 10 per cent of the ESG professionals in mainland China hold at least one ESG-related qualification or accreditation, according to the report, issued last month. Relevant qualifications include the CFA Institute’s own certificate in ESG investing, the Certified ESG Analyst qualification offered by the European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies, and the Sustainability and Climate Risk certificate offered by the Global Association of Risk Professionals.

China steps up carbon emissions trading regulation, data fabrication crackdown

“There is a significant opportunity for China to catch up to developed economies in terms of ESG-related products, as market interest in sustainable projects is growing fast,” Zhang said. “Given the shortage of ESG talent and the strong demand for sustainable finance skills, what is needed is the expertise to drive that growth.”

China’s sustainable finance market could more than quadruple to 70 trillion yuan (US$9.8 trillion) by 2031, according to Swiss investment bank UBS. The size of the green finance market in the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases already reached 16 trillion yuan last year, accounting for about 8 per cent of the country’s entire financial system.

To catch up with global peers and accelerate its transition towards a low-carbon economy, China is introducing stricter ESG disclosure rules. The Shanghai Stock Exchange has encouraged companies to disclose ESG information, and all companies on the Science and Technology Innovation Board, known as the Star Market, have been required to disclose ESG information in their annual reports beginning in 2022.

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“With mandatory ESG disclosure requirements on the horizon, and a complex and evolving landscape of ESG reporting standards, there is pressure from the real economy to urgently address the notable shortage of ESG skills and expertise, and bridge the ESG talent gap,” Zhang said.

Among current ESG-related jobs in mainland China, investment positions have the largest gap between demand and supply, followed by investment-analysis positions and risk-management roles, according to the CFA Institute.

The government should establish ESG, green finance and sustainable finance development guidelines, clarify the standards for practitioners, and introduce more qualification and degree certificates, Zhang said. Meanwhile, universities need to accelerate the construction of ESG finance-related courses to make up for the shortcomings in knowledge, and professional organisations should integrate all parties’ strengths to accelerate the implementation of vocational education and training, he said.

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Plano-Based Finance of America Announces $2.5B Partnership with Funds Managed by Blue Owl to Expand FOA’s Home Equity Lending

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Plano-Based Finance of America Announces .5B Partnership with Funds Managed by Blue Owl to Expand FOA’s Home Equity Lending

Finance of America Companies, a leading provider of home equity-based financing solutions for a modern retirement, and funds managed by Blue Owl Capital, a leading alternative asset manager, announced an enhanced $2.5 billion strategic partnership to accelerate product innovation and distribution for the nation’s fast-growing retirement demographic.

With more than 10,000 Americans entering retirement age every day, the market for home equity access continues to expand. FOA said its collaboration with New York City-based Blue Owl positions it to capture significant share in this rapidly evolving sector.

“This is a pivotal moment not just for Finance of America, but for the senior finance market as a whole,” Graham Fleming, CEO of Finance of America, said in a statement. “By aligning with Blue Owl, we are creating a platform of scale and innovation to better serve one of the fastest-growing demographics in the United States.”

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The enhanced partnership includes, per FOA:

  • $2.5 billion commitment for new product innovation, providing scale and liquidity to support origination growth across multiple asset classes
  • $50 million equity investment in Finance of America, enhancing long-term alignment between the companies and supporting FOA’s continued growth initiatives
  • Joint innovation and product-development initiative focused on the continuous rollout of new, differentiated financial products tailored for people looking to maximize freedom, security, and opportunity throughout their retirement
 

This product expansion will complement FOA’s existing industry-leading reverse mortgage product suite while strengthening the company’s commitment to innovation and its role as a leader in delivering powerful financial solutions for retirees.

FOA said it continues to empower retirees with responsible, flexible access to capital to support aging in place, healthcare expenses, and lifestyle goals.

The partnership reinforces Finance of America’s mission to provide comprehensive, retirement-focused financial solutions, with the goal of expanding beyond reverse mortgages to become the nation’s leading, full-spectrum home equity lending platform, the company said.

“We believe Finance of America is uniquely positioned to redefine how financial products are delivered to retirees,” said David Aidi, senior managing director and co-head of Asset Based Finance at Blue Owl.

“This partnership provides the capital, the strategic alignment, and the innovation engine to build category-defining products at scale,” added Ray Chan, senior managing director and co-head of Asset Based Finance at Blue Owl.

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R E A D   N E X T

  • Little Elm’s Sachchit Balamurugan, an incoming senior at TOPS, flew to Japan Friday to present his ACC cancer detection app at the International Young Researchers’ Conference. He’s also won first place at a BPA national mobile app competition, won an award at the NASA Space App Challenge, started a nonprofit called Youth Opportunities in Tech Innovation—and done lots, lots more.

  • A slide showing Tremedics' award-winning technology for treating narrowed aortas in children (left). Their special dissolving stent (right) opens blocked blood vessels and then disappears as the child grows, eliminating the need for repeated surgeries and potentially helping thousands of the 40,000 U.S. babies born with heart defects annually. [Image source: Tremedics]

    Tre Welch, Tremedics Medical Devices Inc., Leon Jacobson, Ted Price, Nerveli Inc., Sarah Iselin, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, TechFW, MassChallenge, ClearLeaf, Feathery, Algas Organics, Coastal Protection Solutions

  • “We closed the first volume of our story—25 years in the making.” That’s how CEO Tom Spackman described Gigabit Fiber’s majority stake sale to Blue Owl, marking a new phase of growth as AI and cloud drive demand for hyperscale connectivity.

  • Topgolf said the limited-time experience is available at all Topgolf U.S. venues Feb. 1 through April 13. It’s accompanied by a national in-venue sweepstakes and limited-time menu items.

  • The bank’s Support Services team fills a critical role in BOA—acting as an in-house consulting firm for every line of business.

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Bérangère Michel announced as BBC Group Chief Financial Officer

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Bérangère Michel announced as BBC Group Chief Financial Officer

The BBC has announced that Bérangère Michel has been appointed to the role of Group Chief Financial Officer.

Bérangère brings extensive experience from her 16-year career at the John Lewis Partnership, where she held senior roles including Chief Financial Officer, Customer Service Executive Director, Operations Director and Finance & Strategy Director.

Prior to joining the John Lewis Partnership, Bérangère spent 11 years at the Royal Mail Group in a number of finance, change and strategy roles, including as Finance Director of the property division.

In an expanded role as BBC Group Chief Financial Officer, Bérangère will be responsible for the overall BBC Group financial strategy, with a remit across BBC Public Service, BBC Studios and the BBC’s commercial subsidiaries. She will play a leadership role and will sit on both the Executive Committee and, for the first time, the Board.

This position will strengthen the BBC’s financial leadership, support its transformation, and make the best use of the licence fee and commercial opportunities. Bérangère will report to the Director-General and will take up the role in early January.

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Director-General Tim Davie says: “Bérangère brings a wealth of experience from her time at the John Lewis Partnership and will play a critical role in shaping our new financial strategy. I’m pleased to welcome her to the BBC, and to both the Executive Committee and Board.

“Bérangère’s appointment to this expanded role comes at an important time for the BBC, as we look ahead to Charter renewal and continue to accelerate our transformation to deliver outstanding value for our audiences.”

BBC Chair Samir Shah says: “The role of Group Chief Financial Officer will be hugely important as we build a BBC for the future, and I look forward to welcoming Bérangère to the Board.”

Bérangère Michel says: “I am delighted to be joining the BBC, an institution whose purpose and mission I have always admired. It’s a privilege to be part of shaping its exciting future at such a crucial moment and I cannot wait to get started.”

BBC Press Office

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ATI Promotes Longtime Leader to CFO and SVP of Finance

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ATI Promotes Longtime Leader to CFO and SVP of Finance

ATI Inc., a Dallas-based manufacturer of high-performance materials for the aerospace and defense industries, announced that James Robert “Rob” Foster will be promoted to senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer, effective January 1, 2026.

Foster succeeds Don Newman, who will serve as strategic advisor to the CEO beginning January 1. As previously announced, Newman will retire on March 1, 2026, and serve in an advisory capacity in that time to allow for a smooth transition.

“Rob is a proven P&L leader with enterprise-wide experience in the areas that matter most to ATI’s continued growth,” Kim Fields, president and CEO, said in a statement. “He brings deep expertise not only in finance but also as an operational leader. Rob played a pivotal role in the successful Specialty Rolled Products transformation, consistently helping ATI to deliver strong returns and shareholder value. I look forward to partnering with him as we enter our next phase of profitable growth.”

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Foster, a longtime ATI leader, brings both operational expertise and financial discipline to the CFO role, the company said. He most recently served as president of ATI’s specialty alloys & components business, where he improved efficiency, grew capacity, and advanced the company’s role as a global leader in exotic alloys. Foster previously served as vice president of Finance, Supply Chain, and Capital Projects, overseeing ATI’s global finance organization, capital deployment processes, and enterprise supply chain performance. Earlier in his career, he led Finance for both ATI operating segments and the Forged Products business.

“I’m honored to become ATI’s next CFO,” said Foster. “ATI is well-positioned with a strong balance sheet, focused strategy, and significant opportunities ahead. I look forward to working with our team to drive disciplined investment, operational excellence, and long-term value creation for our shareholders.”

Newman added, “Rob is an exceptional leader who understands ATI’s strategy, operations, and financial drivers. He has delivered transformative results across the organization. I look forward to supporting a seamless transition as we pursue this next step in our succession planning.”

Before joining ATI in 2012, Foster held senior finance roles at API Technologies Corp. and Spectrum Control Inc., where he led ERP implementations, acquisition integrations, and internal control enhancements. He began his career as an auditor at Ernst & Young (EY).

ATI produces high-performance materials and solutions for the global aerospace and defense markets, and critical applications in electronics, medical, and specialty energy. 

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R E A D   N E X T

  • The company said Keith Schroeder brings more than 40 years of experience in accounting, corporate control and reporting, finance, operations, and CEO and CFO strategic roles.

  • James Cook announced his retirement after 24 years of service and will officially retire on June 30. James Gilligan will take his new post, effective June 16.

  • Anthony DiSilvestro joins KDP at a pivotal moment as it moves to close its $18 billion acquisition of Netherlands-based JDE Peet’s. His “significant” M&A experience will advance the combined company’s integration and its ultimate split into two “winning companies,” CEO Tim Cofer said.

  • Donna Guy brings more than 25 years of experience in financial leadership across public and private companies to her new position. 

  • Last week, Irving-based Caterpillar marked its 100th anniversary year with celebrations throughout the U.S. commemorating “a monumental moment” in the company’s history. The company officially turns 100 on April 15, marking a century of “customer-centric innovation and industry-leading transformation”

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