We recently worked with a major fund management firm to undertake a significant review of its approach to responsible investment.

The initial phase involved one-on-one meetings with key individuals, attending regular internal meetings, and reviewing existing policies, marketing materials and external messaging.

Through this, we were able to map the firm’s culture, strategy and challenges to that strategy as well as its own governance processes. We also spent time identifying and understanding the needs of the firm’s current and prospective clients, as well as considering the public perception of the firm.

We initiated a working group comprising individuals from major areas across the business early on in the life of the project to help raise awareness of the project and build momentum.

Taking the firm’s existing work as a starting point, we created and gained agreement around a high-level framework and set of principles to help guide the overall approach. We then held workshops on the implications of the new approach with different areas of the business leading to a set of short, distinct and complementary policies with very practical implications.

We provided advice on resource requirements and systems and process changes, helped to update external messaging in line with the overall approach, and working with the HR team we advised on new processes around recruitment, induction, training and development.

Crucial to the success of the project was its sponsorship by the CEO and the commitment of the executive committee to implement significant change, which helped maintain momentum both during the period Arkadiko was working with the firm and beyond.