BT Pension Scheme Management (BTPSM) has appointed Victoria Barron as the scheme's first ever head of sustainable investment.

Barron will lead stewardship and environmental, social and governance (ESG) work in her new role, having previously aided ESG investment integration efforts at Newton Investment Management as a responsible investment analyst, as well as leading the firm’s view on climate change and child labour issues.

She has also been a member of the UK Sustainable Finance Association’s analyst committee and held roles at Hermes Equity Ownership Services and CCLA Investment Management.

Barron commented: “The BT Pension Scheme (BTPS) has a strong heritage of sustainable investment and I’m looking forward to helping the Scheme achieve its investment objectives at a time when the importance of sustainability has never been greater, particularly as we emerge from the pandemic.”

BTPS, which holds over £50bn-worth of assets for around 30,000 members and is the UK’s largest private sector pension scheme, was a founding signatory of the Principle for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2006.

Last year, the fund was appointed to the PRI's leaders group for 2019 alongside four others.

BTPSM chief executive officer, Morten Nilsson, added: “BTPS has a long history of engaged investment and stewardship. Sustainable investment underpins our investment strategy and we have ambitious plans in this area.

“Victoria’s knowledge and expertise will play a key role in helping us achieve our objectives and I’m pleased to welcome her to the team.”

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