UK – Corporate governance and socially responsible investing consultant CoreRatings has hired an environmental specialist from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as head of research.

“Mehrdad Nazari has joined CoreRatings as the new head of research,” the firm said, adding that he previously managed and appraised environmental and social risks at the EBRD.

“We are delighted to have Mehrdad join our team as director of research,” said group managing director Anne-Maree O'Connor.

O’Connor, the former head of SRI research at Morley and Henderson, joined the firm last year as head of research and became MD in September.

She added: “Mehrdad brings a wealth of experience in appraising social and environmental risk for the financing of companies and projects in broad range of sectors.

“His experience in training financial analysts will also assist clients in integrating social and environmental analysis into mainstream investment processes.”

The firm - majority owned by French business services group Fimalac, which also owns ratings agency Fitch - said it now has 20 analysts in London and Paris.

The EBRD, which seeks to help former communist countries move to market economies, disbursed 2.1 billion euros last year.

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