SDR and investment labels: how are fund boards overseeing implementation?
22 February 2024, 2-3pm UK time
FBC senior adviser, Brandon Horwitz, was joined by Head of Proposition/Product at Royal London, Susan Spiller, Chief Compliance Officer at Liontrust, Martin Kearney, and iNED Dawn Hyams, to explore the activity fund boards are undertaking in response to the FCA’s Sustainability Disclosure Regime (SDR) and fund labelling policy.
With the anti-greenwashing rules deadline of 31 May 2024 approaching, the discussion was an opportunity for FBC corporate members to share good practices and participate in a Q&A.
The session discussed aspects such as:
- preparation for SDR
- key activity being undertaken for the deadline
- considerations, implementation and implications of the labels and rules
- the rules in the context of Consumer Duty
- fund board involvement in and access to information on sustainability / ESG ratings, product level discussions and KPIs
If you have a question you would like to pose in advance please get in touch at contact@fundboards.org.
Members can register for this event here.
Contributors
Dawn is an independent non-executive director for SJP’s fund board and senior consultant to The Wisdom Council, leading their work on investor and fund governance – a wide-ranging brief that encompasses all things Consumer Duty and beyond. Dawn currently sits on the FCA’s Disclosures and Labelling Advisory Group.
Susan is Head of Proposition at Royal London Asset Management where she is responsible for product development, management, and governance across all Royal London investment products. She joined RLAM in 2002. Susan is a director of Royal London Unit Trust Managers, as well as the two Royal London Irish fund companies.
Prior to Royal London she has a strong background in wide variety of sales, marketing, product development and investment management activities. Her experience includes 15 years’ experience working at Charles Schwab & Co, Fidelity Investments, and State Street Bank & Trust Co.
Susan is Trustee on the Board of the charity Ascension Eagles Cheerleaders, which is focused on young people in Newham, East London.
Susan holds a BA degree in Economics from Duke University and an MBA from Stanford University.
Martin is Chief Compliance Officer and Money Laundering Reporting Officer at Liontrust, having joined Liontrust in 2008. He has and has over 20 years’ experience in the investment management industry having previously worked at Olympia Capital Ireland and PFPC International.
Martin sits on the Board of Liontrust’s ACD business.
Brandon is Fund Boards Council’s Senior Adviser, involved with developing FBC’s Assessment of Value analysis and assurance model for its members and leading FBC’s new proposition – offering bespoke training and coaching for boards and executives.
He is also the principal of NomBon Consulting and an experienced actuary and independent director, providing consulting to insurers, asset managers, banks and wealth managers on investment and pension proposition design, delivery, governance and distribution strategy.
