HL promotes Rowles to head of ESG

Dominic Rowles has been promoted to head of ESG at Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) following the consolidation of two teams.

The platform said following a re-calibration of accountabilities at exco, Emma Wall will be taking on SMF responsibility for ESG, consolidating ESG reporting, regulation and investment processes for HL as a business, employer, fund manager and platform. Rowles has been promoted to head of ESG to lead this new consolidated team, reporting to Wall.

Rowles has worked at HL for more than 10 years, starting as an investment consultant in 2014. He became lead ESG analyst in 2022.

His role involves leading the development of HL’s ESG investment, and stewardship and engagement policies, and designing the tools and frameworks that enable analysts to integrate ESG considerations into investment decision-making in line with regulatory expectations and best practice. In addition, he supports strategic ESG decision-making across all group legal entities, and represents the firm in engagement with regulators, industry bodies, and other external stakeholders.

Rowles commented: “I am extremely pleased to have been promoted to the position of head of ESG at HL. We’ve made huge progress integrating ESG across our funds and platform in recent years, and I’m excited to build on this momentum in an expanded role, which will include building on our progress as a business, and as a significant employer in the Bristol area. I’m passionate about strengthening the value we deliver, both for our clients and for the local community, and ensuring ESG remains central to how we grow as an organisation.”

Wall added: “HL has brought together two teams to consolidate and more closely collaborate our ESG efforts, appointing Dominic Rowles to head of ESG. Dominic has already been leading the ESG strategy for HL as a fund manager and platform for several years and has long been assessing other asset and wealth managers on their business and employer practises as part of his career as an investment analyst.

“This expansion to his role meets a clear business need with a brilliant candidate with much needed expertise. We are thrilled he has accepted the position and look forward to our clients benefiting from his focus and vision.”