Black joins UN’s ESG taskforce

Head of sustainability and partner at Doughty Hanson Adam Black joined the private equity steering committee at the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) earlier this month, pfm has learned.  

The group brings together GPs, LPs and fund of funds to raise awareness and support the implementation of the principles by creating clarity around ESG issues in private equity. The group aims to develop thought leadership on responsible investment in private equity and conducts outreach with industry associations and existing and potential signatories.

Black applied for the position following an announcement in February that a spot had opened up on the committee. PRI was specifically looking for a senior member of a small/mid-market GP with less than $5 billion in assets under management. “The PRI is very pleased to welcome [Black] to the Private Equity Steering Committee. His sustainability credentials and experience at Doughty Hanson will be a great asset,” noted Natasha Buckley, manager of the private equity program at PRI, in an exchange with pfm.

Buckley also cited Black’s reputation in the responsible investment industry, links to industry associations and prior work on PRI projects as reasons for adding him to the team. Black is currently a member of the Responsible Investment Advisory Group at the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association as well as the Responsible Investment Roundtable at the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association.

Members on the steering committee serve three-year terms and the committee’s composition is reviewed annually. The other members include Britta Ersman of AP2; Myra Khanna of bcIMC; Matthieu Baret of Idinvest Partners; Elizabeth Seeger of KKR; Darren Massara of NewQuest Capital Partners; Adam Frost of Partners Group; Tim van der Weide of PGGM; John Beil of University of California; and Tanya Carmichael and Joy Williams of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.