Montreal-based ESG consulting firm Close Group Consulting (CGC) hired Paul LaCoursiere as managing director in London.
LaCoursiere is charged with expanding the firm’s presence in Europe as their client base in the region has a need for experienced capital markets based ESG advisory specialists. He will be responsible for helping to lead the firm’s ESG strategy and due diligence practices covering asset managers and asset owners across public and private markets, across EMEA and North America.
Most recently, LaCoursiere was the global head of ESG Investments for Janus Henderson Investors and was responsible for the integration of ESG across the $310 billion firm’s strategies.
“We’re extremely excited to have Paul join CGC and contribute to the continued evolution of our firm’s capital markets and ESG capabilities,” said CGC Founder Tamara Close. “Throughout his investment and portfolio management career, Paul has been a leader in implementing ESG practices at top tier investment firms and has worked directly with many of the major pension, sovereign wealth, and insurance organizations globally.”
Before Janus Henderson, LaCoursiere led the build out of the ESG research team at Aviva Investors as global head of ESG Research. He held other roles at Aviva including the role of portfolio manager for a fixed income strategy. Prior to Aviva, he held positions at Barclays Global Investors as a senior strategist for fixed income and as a portfolio manager at Munder Capital Management.
“I look forward to contributing to CGC’s ongoing success by providing investment managers and institutional investors with access to customized ESG advisory and due diligence solutions that advance their ESG and help to solve for some of their most pressing needs” LaCoursiere said. “CGC differentiates itself from other advisors through the financial and capital markets and ESG experience of its team and their proprietary tools and methodologies.”
