Robeco Switzerland appoints Rachel Whittaker to Executive Committee
Zurich/Rotterdam, 11 October 2022 – Robeco Switzerland Ltd. has appointed Rachel Whittaker, Head of Sustainable Investing (SI) Research at Robeco, to its Executive Committee as at 1 October 2022, subject to approval by the Swiss financial market regulator (FINMA). Her experience and expertise in SI strengthen the Robeco Switzerland Executive Committee which also includes David Hrdina, Chair and Business Manager Switzerland, and Sandra Cafazzo, Head of Sales and Marketing Switzerland. The appointment also underlines the importance of SI Research in Robeco’s activities.
Ms. Whittaker, who is based in Zurich, has over 20 years’ experience in the investment industry, specializing in SI since 2007. She leads an international team of 18 experts who contribute to all of Robeco’s strategies through industry research on the impact of ESG on company fundamentals, and collaborate on the development of SI frameworks used across Robeco. She first worked for Robeco from 2015-2017 as a Senior SI Analyst, rejoining to lead the team in 2021. In the interim she was an SI strategist and latterly head of the Zurich SI team in the CIO Office of UBS’ global wealth management arm. Prior to joining Robeco in 2015, she held SI roles with Vontobel Asset Management and Mercer’s Investment Consulting business in London, and started her career as a sell-side equity research analyst. Ms. Whittaker earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Cambridge, and an MSc in Corporate Environmental Management at the University of Surrey, UK. She is a CFA® charter holder and a dual national of the UK and Switzerland.
Dr. Martin K. Weber, Chair of the Board of Directors of Robeco Switzerland Ltd.: “I’m pleased to welcome Rachel Whittaker to the Robeco Switzerland Executive Committee. Since rejoining our team as Head of SI Research, Rachel has made massive strides in ensuring access to extensive sustainability know-how, which is an integral part of Robeco’s investment process. Her appointment therefore not only confirms our confidence that Rachel will successfully help steer Robeco Switzerland, but it also underpins the importance of the SI Research department to our global company.”
Rachel Whittaker, Head of SI Research and Robeco Switzerland Ltd. Executive Committee Member: “I’m delighted to be joining the Executive Committee at such an exciting time in the growth of SI, and would like to thank my committee colleagues and the Board of Directors for their confidence and trust. It’s immensely motivating to know that SI Research plays a key role in Robeco’s future strategy. My team and I, in collaboration with our investment and SI Center of Expertise colleagues, aim to continue raising the bar for fully integrated, investment-relevant and market-leading SI research that makes a real difference to the performance of Robeco’s funds.”