BlackRock hires from JP Morgan

Elaine Wu has joined BlackRock as head of research for sustainable investing in Asia.

Wu joins from JP Morgan, where she ran ESG and utilities equity research for Asia ex Japan.

In this role, she spearheaded the firm's push into ESG.

Wu topped the ESG analyst ranking in the Institutional Investor All-Asia Research Poll for the past two years for her early focus on climate transition and the energy value chain throughout Asia, including coal-fired, renewable, nuclear power and gas/ water utilities.

She has also won a Thomson Reuters Asia Analyst award.

Before her ten-year career with JP Morgan, Wu worked at Nomura and Lehman Brothers.

Reporting to the head of BlackRock Sustainability Investing Emily Woodland, Wu will partner with global sustainability research colleagues across investment platforms.

She will also work closely with business and investment partners in APAC to strengthen research and analysis that focuses on the link between sustainability and financial materiality and to identify risks and opportunities.

"Clients are increasingly turning to us to help them connect data, investment strategies, and sustainability insights to build better portfolios, especially in Asia,' commented Woodland.

"Our ability to do this has long depended on the bedrock of rigorous quantitative and qualitative research and Elaine's deep capabilities will supercharge our clients' access to the latest research and insights they're asking for to reach their investment goals."

Wu stressed that meaningful ESG insights require discipline and rigour.

"I am keen to incorporate an APAC-based perspective into BlackRock's ongoing work in the space to better respond to regional and global client interest," she said.