Nanuk Asset Management has appointed Stephen O’Brien, formerly chief executive of Deutsche Asset Management (Australia), as head of institutional sales, marking a return to funds management after several years focused on investor relations.

O’Brien has 30 years’ experience in institutional sales, including previous senior roles with investment firms Schroder, Tyndall (now Nikko) and UBS.

Eric Siegloff, Nanuk’s chief executive, said: “I’m looking forward to leveraging Stephen’s extensive experience and skill to extend our investment offering to institutional clients”.

Nanuk is wholly focussed on responsible, sustainably-themed investing.  It’s flagship Nanuk New World Fund invests in listed global companies that contribute to or benefit from the global transition towards greater environmental sustainability and resource efficiency.

Siegloff added that the appointment came at a time of increasing public and investor awareness of real environmental challenges – such as climate change – and increasing investor awareness of companies profitably adapting their business models, practices and outcomes as a response to the related opportunities and risks.

Last year, Nanuk appointed another experienced marketer as distribution head, Dan Powell, who has a background in platforms and working with financial planners.