UN Global Compact’s Outgoing Director to Join Board of Values-Based Asset Management Firm

NEW YORK, August 31, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Today, after 15 years at the helm of the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, Georg Kell will step down as Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, the organization he helped found in 2000 and which he has built into a global movement over the past decade.

Mr. Kell will join Arabesque Partners, the Anglo-German asset management firm, as Vice Chairman-designate.  Arabesque, which bills itself as a “values-based asset management firm”, uses the UN Global Compact principles, as well as environmental, social and governance (ESG) information to direct its core business of portfolio management.

Commenting on Mr. Kell’s new role, Arabesque Chairman Dr. Robert G. Eccles said: “Georg has a unique understanding of companies’ Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues around the globe. The integration of such non-financial information into our quant models is at the core of our work. His many years of experience as leader of the UN Global Compact will be invaluable to Arabesque.”

In a farewell message to the Global Compact’s over 13,000 participants, Mr. Kell expressed his excitement for this new venture, noting: “It is my aspiration to help create the next generation of asset management and thereby firmly establish the business case for the UN Global Compact. I have no doubt that winning over the world of finance is key to achieving market transformation.”

Additionally, as a founder of the UN Global Compact, Mr. Kell will remain involved as a Senior Policy Adviser to the initiative, supporting the new Executive Director, Lise Kingo, who will begin her appointment on 1 September.

• See press release from Arabesque Asset Management
• See official announcement on appointment of Lise Kingo (25 June 2015)

About the UN Global Compact:

The United Nations Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to voluntarily align their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of UN goals and issues. The UN Global Compact is a leadership platform for the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible corporate policies and practices. Launched in 2000, it is largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with over 8,000 companies and 4,000 non-business signatories based in 160 countries. www.unglobalcompact.org