Close This site uses cookies. If you continue to use the site you agree to this. For more details please see our cookies policy.

Search

Type your text, and hit enter to search:

Stephen Beer leaves the CFB 

After 27 years of service, Stephen Beer, Chief Investment Officer and Head of Ethics, is leaving the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church and Epworth Investment Management to pursue new challenges.

Stephen leaves the CFB and Epworth with an outstanding track record of leadership in investment management, investment strategy, and ethical/ESG investment. He has led the investment team through a significant period of transformation, as the CFB and Epworth have modernised their investment processes, refined their research and portfolio construction approach, adapted to new regulations, served changing pension fund needs, and successfully launched and managed new ESG funds for the charity sector.

Stephen is well known for his commitment to, and knowledge of, ethical investment and has led many initiatives in this area.  These include pioneering work bringing global mining chief executives and church leaders together to work out how mining can benefit all communities, our range of ethical investment policies, and one of the most comprehensive assessments of the oil and gas sector in the light of climate change, together with wider work towards net zero portfolios. The CFB, Epworth, and their clients have benefited from Stephen’s ability to bring together investment theory and experience, ethics, ESG analysis, company engagement, and an understanding of economic strategy and policy.

David Palmer, CEO, said:
It is no exaggeration to say that Stephen will be much missed and we thank him for his strong commitment to the CFB and Epworth. As Stephen moves to new ventures we will build on his legacy, and we wish him the very best for the future.”

This press announcement was first posted at: https://www.cfbmethodistchurch.org.uk/news/stephen-beer-leaves-the-cfb/ on 18 January 2021.

Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church, 18/01/2021

 
Mining and the common good 
I have been involved with the Mining and Faith Reflections Initiative from the start. It brings global mining CEOs together with church leaders from around the world. The aim: explore how mining can better serve the common good.
It is good to assess progress on ESG 
Investors need to be clear what criteria they are applying.
Shareholder resolutions have their place
Blackrock announced it is likely to support proportionately fewer resolutions on climate change this year. Makes sense but resolutions can change companies.
Keeping faith with ESG principles is hard to do 
My letter in the Financial Times on ESG, ethics, and activist investing.
The 100 trillion dollar question 
My assessment of the finance pledges at COP26 and what really matters.
ESG must learn from the tech bubble - returns matter 
Investors must not forget about profits, even as they focus on wider criteria.
Companies must be discerning when picking causes to support 
Unless CEOs and their boards are clear about their own values, and those of the companies they run, they will fall down a rabbit hole of confusion.
Progressive investing 
My contribution to Aftershock, Policy Network's series on the pandemic. Progressives have much to learn from ethical or 'ESG' investors.