CDC Group plc (‘CDC’), the UK’s development finance institution (DFI), has announced the appointment of Ritu Kumar as Director, Environmental and Social Responsibility.
Ms Kumar will work across the environmental and social remit with a specific focus on CDC’s direct equity investments, as well as the environmental and social performance and value-add of CDC’s investments through DFID’s Impact Fund. Ms Kumar will also lead CDC’s approach to climate change. She will work closely with Mark Eckstein, fellow Director for Environmental and Social Responsibility, in the management of the Environmental and Social Responsibility team and its support to CDC’s portfolio of debt, equity and fund investments.
Ms Kumar comes to CDC with extensive experience of producing environmental and social value through her work with private equity funds globally. She is also widely respected for her leadership, policy-development and capacity-building work in enabling more sustainable private-sector activity in emerging markets. Most recently, Ms Kumar was Director and Senior Advisor for Responsible Investment at private equity firm, Actis. Previous roles include managing energy and environmental programmes at the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation.
“Supporting companies to achieve strong environmental and social policies and systems is an important part of how we add value to the businesses in which our capital is invested. Ritu’s expertise from over 20 years’ experience of working in sustainable development will help us continue to strengthen this support. We are delighted to welcome her to CDC.”
