UBS Adds Michael Baldinger in New Sustainable, Impact Investing Role

UBS Asset Management has unveiled the appointment of Michael Baldinger as its newest Head of Sustainable and Impact Investing, part of a rapidly developing field for the lender and the industry, per a recent UBS statement.

In the newly created role, Mr. Baldinger will be tasked with the establishment of various investing businesses spanning several asset classes. In this capacity he will be based out of UBS’ New York branch where he report to Dawn Fitzpatrick, Head of Equities Equities Equities can be characterized as stocks or shares in a company that investors can buy or sell. When you buy a stock, you are in essence buying an equity, becoming a partial owner of shares in a specific company or fund.However, equities do not pay a fixed interest rate, and as such are not considered guaranteed income. As such, equity markets are often associated with risk.When a company issues bonds, it’s taking loans from buyers. When a company offers shares, on the other hand, it’s selling pa Equities can be characterized as stocks or shares in a company that investors can buy or sell. When you buy a stock, you are in essence buying an equity, becoming a partial owner of shares in a specific company or fund.However, equities do not pay a fixed interest rate, and as such are not considered guaranteed income. As such, equity markets are often associated with risk.When a company issues bonds, it’s taking loans from buyers. When a company offers shares, on the other hand, it’s selling pa Read this Term, Multi Asset and O'Connor at the bank.

Sustainable and Impact Investing practices have been adopted by other lenders in an effort to better focus on specific investment channels – presently many lenders are finding it difficult to produce optimistic earnings report or hold onto profit margins.

Moreover, Mr. Baldinger will be appointed a member of the UBS and Society Operating Committee and will also be given a role as the Chair of the Asset Management Environmental, Social, and Governance Committee. He joins UBS from RobescoSAM, having worked there for over seven years. During this tenure, he held a CEO role between 2011-2016. Additional roles include stints as the Head of Distribution for the Americas at Credit Suisse Asset Management as well as a decade in Equity Sales at Bear Stearns and Deutsche Bank.

According to Ulrich Körner, President UBS Asset Management, in a recent statement on the appointment: “The combination of Michael's experience and expertise in this rapidly developing field, together with our own broad capabilities across asset classes, will enable us to build a world class sustainability offering for our clients."

"ESG and impact focused investing is good for society and can drive superior investment returns. There is an inherent link between the forward and creative thinking of companies who rate highly in these areas and a corporation's ability to produce sustainable growth," reiterated Fitzpatrick, in an accompanying statement.

The move comes amidst a flurry of departures from the bank, including Roger Naylor, Chris Murphy, and Matt Hanning, who were reported to be parting ways with UBS over the next few months.