RBC Global Asset Management (RBC GAM) is to strengthen its responsible investing and impact investing team in the United States with two new senior management roles.
Ron Homer, Managing Director, Institutional Portfolio Manager and President, Access Capital Strategies has assumed the new role of Chief Strategist of Impact Investing for the US, and Catherine Banat, Institutional Portfolio Manager has assumed the new role of Director of Responsible Investing in the US.
Homer will be responsible for educating investors on the potential role of impact investments in their portfolios and working with clients and prospects to match their unique investment objectives with relevant solutions. Homer will also support the fixed income investment teams with developing innovative impact investment capabilities at the firm. He will continue to be based in Boston.
Banat will lead the development of RBC GAM’s responsible investing distribution platform in the US. She will work with clients and prospects to identify their responsible investing goals. Catherine will also collaborate on behalf of US clients with Judy Cotte, VP and Head of Corporate Governance and Responsible Investment at RBC GAM. She will continue to be based in New York City.
“We are pleased to have two experienced leaders supporting the responsible investing and impact goals of our US-based clients,” says Mike Lee, Global Head of Institutional Business at RBC GAM. “These new roles will align the expertise within our organisation with the evolving needs of our clients and investment consultants.”
Before joining RBC GAM, Homer was co-founder and chief executive officer of Access Capital Strategies LLC, an investment adviser specialising in community investments that was acquired by RBC GAM-US in 2008. Since then, Ron has led RBC GAM’s impact investing efforts and has ensured that investment solutions are implemented based on each client’s customised impact requirements.
Banat joined RBC GAM in 2014 and has played a key role in the development and enhancement of relationships with impact investing clients. Catherine has also served as a key spokesperson for RBC GAM’s Responsible Investing commitment and products. Prior to joining RBC GAM, Banat has held leadership roles at the New York City Retirement Systems, Bureau of Asset Management and at Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Paloma Partners and C3 Capital.
RBC GAM has more than 175 employees throughout the United States, including offices in Boston, Minneapolis, New York and Chicago, as well as an RBC GAM affiliate in Stamford, Connecticut.