The Edinburgh-headquartered global investment manager is looking to boost its ESG investment capabilities with its latest appointment.

Standard Life Investments has appointed Deborah Gilshan as governance and stewardship director of its environmental, social and governance investment team. 

Gilshan will join in May from RPMI Railpen, where she leads work on sustainable investment strategies. She is a member of the 30% Club - a global initiative that seeks to promote diversity - and also co-chairs the company’s institutional investor group in the UK.

At Standard Life Investments, Gilshan will report to Euan Stirling, head of stewardship and ESG investment, and will implement governance and stewardship considerations into the broader investment process, engaging with companies, their boards and regulators on governance issues. 

“Our ESG investment team is growing in size and importance as we move ESG considerations further up the investment agenda,” said Stirling.

He added: “The consideration of environmental, social and governance issues is now formally integrated as part of our investment research process. Engagement continues to be at the heart of our approach to ESG matters and it is important for us to influence the standards of governance that apply. With her depth of knowledge and experience, Deborah will be a terrific addition to the team and invaluable in helping us to hold boards to account.”

Standard Life Investments' parent company, Standard Life, floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2006. SLI invests in equities, bonds, real estate, multi-asset solutions and absolute return strategies.