Morningstar hires ESG analyst

Morningstar has hired Erica Hall as an ESG analyst to work on ratings and assess investment managers under Morningstar's coverage.

She replaces Christopher Franz, who has relocated to the Chicago office.

In her new role, Hall will work on the ratings and coverage of investment managers under Morningstar's coverage.

She brings more than 20 year's experience in financial services to her role within Morningstar's manager research team.

Hall previously worked as a senior manager, adviser solutions at Morningstar Investment Management, where she helped build brand awareness and relationships with key financial adviser clients.

"Erica will be a great addition to Morningstar's ESG efforts as we continue to boost our coverage in this sector that continues to garner investor interest and engagement," said Annika Bradley, Morningstar director of manager research ratings,Asia Pacific.

When she first joined Morningstar some four years ago, Hall dedicated her time to showcasing the ESG data, research, and analytics that were available in Morningstar's institutional software Morningstar Direct.

Her wider experience outside Morningstar also includes working with a client on developing an ESG sovereign bond strategy that had significant exposure to green bonds. It was a strategy that went on to win the funds management innovation award from the Australian Centre for Financial Studies in 2013.

"I'm passionate, committed, and have already deeply engaged with ESG investing, excited by the developments in this sector including businesses being encouraged to generate sustainable value for all stakeholders not just shareholders," she said.

"I'm a true believer in what gets measured gets managed and am keen to contribute my energy and attention into focused ESG work that can make a real difference for Morningstar, our clients, our broad stakeholders, and frankly, the planet."

Hall joined Morningstar from National Australia Bank Asset Management as a business delivery manager.

Before that, she did a five-year stint at Omega Global as head of the firm's institutional business moving from Vanguard where she worked for eight years.