Media. News and press releases from across Man Group.

14 January 2020

Man Group, the global active investment management firm, announces the appointment of Robert Furdak as Chief Investment Officer for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), a newly-created role to further bolster the firm’s broader commitment to responsible investment (RI). Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Robert will report to Sandy Rattray, Chief Investment Officer of Man Group.

Robert will lead the firm’s RI initiatives across Man Group’s five specialist investment engines, ensuring collaboration across research efforts and investment solutions. His responsibilities will also include working with external asset owners to help them develop and analyse ESG policy and implement solutions, advancing Man Group’s stewardship and corporate engagement efforts and playing an active role in promoting RI and ESG across the industry. He will also chair Man Group’s Responsible Investment Committee.

Robert most recently served as Co-Chief Investment Officer of Man Numeric, the firm’s fundamentally driven quantitative investment business, as well as chairman of Man Numeric’s Investment Committee and Head of Man Numeric’s US/Global Group. During this time, he led the development of Man Numeric’s proprietary ESG model and drove the integration of ESG across Man Numeric’s investment strategies. Currently 90% of its assets incorporate the ESG factor. He also helped develop Man Group’s proprietary ESG dashboard tool, Man Group ESG Analytics, which launched in 2019.

Man Group takes a coordinated approach to RI. With top down guidance from Man Group’s RI Policy, Fund and Stewardship Framework and Responsible Investment Committee, its five investment engines are able to apply the best practices of RI in the way that is most relevant to their fields. For example, Man AHL brings a scientific and empirical mind-set to RI, with ESG analysis included in a systematic screening process based on Man Group’s RI Exclusions List. Additionally, Man GLG incorporates RI into its fundamental research process, offers RI-specific strategies that focus on identifying sustainable businesses across the globe and engages with corporate management teams on relevant ESG issues to push for best practices.

Sandy Rattray, Chief Investment Officer, Man Group, said:

"At Man Group, we believe ESG forms a crucial part of the research, investment and risk management process, so the creation of this role is the natural next step as we seek to leverage synergies, data and learnings across the firm and beyond. We are delighted that Robert will be taking on this significant role, as he’s been instrumental in Man Group’s efforts to harness data to develop effective ESG models and tools in recent years."

Robert Furdak, CIO for ESG, Man Group, said:

"It’s been gratifying to be a part of the evolution of responsible investment at Man Group. I look forward to coordinating the diverse and robust responsible investment efforts across the firm’s investment engines to ensure we help our clients navigate the complexities in the space and take advantage of alpha-generating opportunities."

In his new role, Robert will continue to serve as a member of the Man Group Executive Committee and the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (‘PRI’) Macroeconomic Risk Advisory Committee. He joined Man Numeric in 1997 and prior to this was a principal in the Active International Group at State Street Global Advisors. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Chicago. Robert is also a CFA Charterholder.

To learn more about Man Group’s commitment to responsible investment, visit:
www.man.com/responsible-investment