The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) have appointed the investor organisation’s first head of China, Nan Luo.

According to the PRI, Luo will work closely with Chinese institutional investors on responsible investment initiatives, including green finance, and continuing to raise awareness of the PRI and its activities.

She will also work with a number of external bodies, such as the Asset Management Association of China and the Green Finance Committee, which is chaired by Ma Jun, formerly chief economist of the People’s Bank of China.

Luo will be part of the PRI’s global networks and outreach team, and report to that team’s head and co-director, Lorenzo Saa.

Luo’s most recent role recent role was with the Department of International Trade at the British Embassy in Beijing, where she was head of institutional infrastructure investment, leading on attracting Chinese capital investment into UK energy and infrastructure activities, with particular focus on renewable energy.

Before that she spent five years working in the climate change and energy section of the British Embassy in Beijing, focusing on green finance strategies and policy-oriented projects to address global climate change and support China’s low carbon transition.

The PRI’s Saa said: “Obviously, China is of huge strategic importance with considerable institutional investor clout. But in order to maximise our existing relationships in China and to continue building awareness of the importance of ESG issues, we have realised that we need a presence on the ground.

“This appointment also aligns to our three-year strategic plan of having a greater presence in Asia.”

South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore are priority countries in Asia for the PRI in addition to China.

Commenting on her new role, Luo said: “Working with a large global organisation like the PRI will provide a unique opportunity to engage with Chinese asset owners and investment managers on ESG issues and for expanding PRI’s signatory base across China.”

Nan Luo will start at the PRI on 9 October and will be based in Beijing.

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