Investment Association appoints LGIM CIO, Sonja Laud, as Chair of Investment Committee

26 November 2021

Sonja Laud, Chief Investment Officer of Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM), has been appointed as the new Chair of the IA Investment Committee, the Investment Association has announced today.

The Investment Committee is one of the IA’s most senior committees, convening CIO-level individuals from member firms to provide strategic direction and oversight on all matters affecting IA members as investors and users of capital markets. This includes effective investment in all asset classes, capital markets developments and top level oversight of the IA’s work on Sustainability and Responsible Investment, which continues to be a key area of development within the investment industry. Sonja replaces Rick LaCaille, Executive Vice President and Senior Adviser of State Street Group, as Chair of the Committee.

Galina Dimitrova, Director of Investment and Capital Markets at the Investment Association, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Sonja to this post, who, having served as our Deputy Chair, already has a solid understanding of our committee’s work. We look forward to harnessing her deep investment knowledge, as we embark on further change and evolution for our industry. Sonja’s advice and support will be instrumental as we continue to help and guide members, and navigate the path ahead.

“It has been a pleasure working with our outgoing Chair, Rick Lacaille, and we thank him for all of his work with our committee over the years and in particular, in his role as our Chair since January 2020.”

Sonja Laud, Chair of the IA’s Investment Committee, and Chief Investment Officer of Legal & General Investment Management, said: “I’m delighted to be taking on the role as chair of the Investment Committee at such a crucial point in time for our industry. Whilst uncertainty around the pandemic continues, as an industry our focus remains to support investors deliver on their investment objectives. I look forward to working with the committee as we head into 2022 where the emphasis on ESG investing continues and with that making a real, positive impact on the companies and markets in which we invest and on society as a whole.”

Sonja’s role as Chair will be multifaceted, and main responsibilities will include:

– Working closely with the IA Executive Team to provide advice and support on matters of strategic importance and industry priority.
– Acting as an ambassador for the UK investment industry, representing the IA to stakeholders and senior policy makers in the UK, EU, and globally.
– Setting the agenda, style and tone of the Investment Committee discussions to promote a culture of openness, effective decision-making and constructive debate.