Australian Ethical adds analyst

Former Ausbil equities analyst and VGI  executive director Zeljka Black has joined Australian Ethical Investment.

Black joins from VGI Partners the specialist alternative investment manager that merged with Regal Funds Management in June 2022 to form Regal Partners.

She was executive director at VGI which covered long/short equities, private markets and real and natural assets.

Before her 13 month stint there, she worked as a senior analyst at Ethical Partners Funds Management.

The boutique's products - which have an ethical focus - are open to sophisticated, professional and wholesale investors only.

She joined Ethical Partners after ten years at Ausbil Investment Management and four years at 452 Capital -  the high-profile boutique fund manager founded by shareholder activist Peter Morgan in 2002 and disolved eight years later.

In welcoming Black to the investment team, Australian Ethical portfolio manager Deana Mitchell said Black will focus on identifying energy transition investment opportunities for the firm's flagship Australian Equities fund.

"Under the guidance of our chief investment officer, Ludovic Theau, our focus at present is growing our highly capable investment team," she said.

"As a pure-play responsible investment fund with a 37-year history, we are pleased to attract high-calibre talent. Zeljka is well regarded across the industry and will be a great addition to our already strong equities team."

Mitchell said the appointment follows a competitive process where selection was based on the depth of experience in equity investing and cultural alignment with Australian Ethical.

"We are also pleased to note that this appointment brings gender balance to the Australian equities team, something that Ludovic is looking to attain more broadly across the investment team."