Blackstone Announces Appointments for Several Newly Created Senior ESG Roles
Alternative investment manager Blackstone announced today five newly created ESG positions across the U.S., Europe and Asia, encompassing the company’s businesses, investments, and reporting and engagements.
The new appointments include Elizabeth Lewis as Managing Director of ESG (Corporate), James Mandel, Ph.D. as Managing Director of Sustainability (Portfolio Operations), Nina James as Head of Real Estate ESG (Real Estate, Asia), Caroline Hill as Head of Real Estate ESG (Real Estate, Europe), and Rita Mangalick, Global Head of ESG for Blackstone Alternative Asset Management (BAAM) and Blackstone Credit.
Lewis joins Blackstone from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), where she led engagement with investors, NGOs, governments, and other stakeholders on key ESG topics for IFC, part of the World Bank Group. In her new role as Managing Director of ESG (Corporate), she will be responsible for implementation of ESG policies across Blackstone’s businesses.
Mandel was formerly at RMI, where he served as Managing Director, where he oversaw the organization’s Global Carbon-Free Buildings Program. As Managing Director of Sustainability (Portfolio Operations), Mandel will help lead Blackstone’s carbon emissions reduction program.
James joins Blackstone after more than eight years at Investa Property Group in Australia, most recently serving as General Manager of Responsible Investment and Corporate Sustainability.
Hill was most recently Head of Responsible Business for Lloyds Banking Group, and also held senior sustainability roles at Landsec and PwC.
In their new roles as Head of Real Estate ESG (Real Estate, Asia), and Head of Real Estate ESG (Real Estate, Europe), respectively, James and Hill will partner with Blackstone’s Global Head of Real Estate ESG, Eric Duchon, in building out the firm’s ESG capabilities in their respective geographies’ real estate asset management groups.
Mangalick has been with Blackstone since 2013, and was instrumental in developing BAAM’s ESG program, along with a focus on BAAM’s Advisory Business. She will partner with the BAAM and Blackstone Credit groups to lead ESG diligence, policy development, reporting and engagement.
Jon Gray, Blackstone President and COO, said:
“We view ESG as central to our mission of delivering strong returns for clients. Blackstone is using its scale and expertise to help strengthen our companies, assets and the communities in which they operate. We are thrilled to have Elizabeth, James, Nina, Caroline and Rita joining our global ESG team. They each bring a wide spectrum of domain expertise as we continue to drive value for our investors and create impact across our portfolio.”