Global buyout giant Blackstone has hired Amisha Parekh from Bloomberg as global head of ESG for private equity.
The firm said Parekh will be a managing director within the firm’s portfolio operations group leading ESG diligence, policy development and strategy. She will also lead the reporting for all businesses in private equity.
Parekh joined Blackstone from Bloomberg, where she led the ESG data acquisition effort and launched the company’s sustainable finance product offering as head of sustainable finance production incubation. She was also previously a senior manager at Deloitte.
Joe Baratta, Blackstone’s global head of private equity, said, “Executing against our ESG efforts and creating positive impact across our portfolio is imperative to delivering value to our clients.
“Amisha will be a critical partner in these efforts and I’m thrilled to welcome her to the firm as we continue to build and operationalize an industry-leading ESG platform at scale.”
Blackstone added five newly created senior positions in the ESG team across the US, Europe and Asia in April. Former IFC ESG engagement lead Elizabeth Lewis became managing director of ESG (corporate), handling implementation of ESG policies across the firm’s businesses.
Other buyout firms have also been stepping up ESG efforts with senior hirings recently. Software-focused private equity major Vista Equity Partners hired Angela Pecoraro last month as operating managing director to extend the firm’s commitment to ESG.
Debt-focused asset manager White Oak Global Advisors brought in Jon Patty in August to lead new ESG and impact-oriented investment opportunities and strategies.
US Hispanic market focused Palladium Equity has also made two new appointments in August to boost its ESG effort. Ex-World Bank exec Carlos Reyes was named new MD, partner Eugenie Cesar-Fabian was appointed as head of ESG and sustainability.
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