PGIM Real Estate names ESG lead for Asia Pacific

The real estate unit of Prudential's US$1.5 trillion asset management business has bolstered its responsible investment efforts with the appointment of an ESG lead for Asia Pacific and Europe.

PGIM Real Estate has hired Julie Townsend to oversee the firm's ESG strategy and implementation across the two regions building upon the firm's sustainability targets. These include a commitment to cut the operational carbon emissions of its global portfolio of managed properties to net-zero by 2050.

Townsend joins PGIM Real Estate from CBRE, where she spent 15 years, most recently as its head of environmental consultancy.

Before that, she worked as a senior consultant at Ramboll, the global engineering, architecture, and consultancy company, and Bureau Veritas Group, the French environmental services giant.

As ESG lead for APAC and Europe, Townsend will report to the global head of ESG and head of Americas asset management Christina Hill.

Hill said given the firm's global scale and footprint, management has immense potential to make a positive impact and help address many of today's ESG challenges.

"We are fortunate to have been able to attract a skilled and experienced ESG leader such as Julie, who will be a pivotal member of our growing team as we continue to accelerate our sustainability efforts in the years ahead."

Commenting on her appointment, Townsend noted that with a history dating back more than half a century, PGIM Real Estate is one of the most renowned brands in the global property industry.

"I am extremely pleased to join a group of such scale and experience and am looking forward to helping make a difference as we continue to build upon the already strong ESG foundations."