The real assets platform has just launched: a home for the firm’s Energy Transition Infrastructure, Natural Capital and Private Equity business lines will now be hosted under the one roof. According to Mirova, the launch forms part of its long-term consolidation strategy in impact private assets. Raphaël Lance currently leads the ambitious platform as Head of Energy Transition Infrastructure Funds.
Mirova is a 2014-founded company that is a subsidiary of Natixis Investment Management focused on sustainable and impact investments. With time, the company has developed a niche in the investment landscape through operations that align with ESG principles. This new platform is one of the key milestones on Mirova’s 2030 strategic roadmap, which focuses on building expertise in real assets and leading in impact private asset management.
“Restructuring is part of the broader effort to strengthen our capabilities within the real assets market while optimizing synergies across all our investment divisions,” said Mirova CEO Philippe Zaouati. “Mirova is committed to the vision of becoming a leader in impact private assets, as laid out in our strategic roadmap Mirova 2030. Raphaël Lance has been instrumental in leading Mirova since the very beginning, bringing to his role more than twenty years of experience managing funds related to energy transition”. He really convinces me by his vision and his ability to clearly outline a strategic course of action that will allow us to accelerate our development in the real assets sector, reinforce our expertise, and generate synergies at all levels of management and operation, as well, Zaouati said.
Lance’s appointment reflects his experience in the energy transition space, as well as long-term efforts to grow Mirova. Lance joined the company in 2009. He has a 12-year tenure with General Electric (GE). He brings considerable experience in energy finance and infrastructure development. He has also held several leadership positions where he acted as Commercial Leader for France and Italy for Energy Financial Services, which is an energy investment arm of the company. Since then, Lance has played a very pivotal role in Mirova’s success, mainly managing its energy transition infrastructure funds and steering the investment strategies of the firm.
In his new role, Lance will lead nearly 80 investment specialists who focus on developing sustainable and impact-focused investment solutions. He will continue to do his work as Head of Energy Transition Infrastructure Funds and, besides that, he will continue to lead the investment committee of the funds. The Natural Capital and Private Equity businesses will report to Lance but come under direct supervision of Anne-Laurence Roucher. This is aimed to bring cohesion to the cooperation across all the different domains of investment of the firm; however, every domain is accorded focused attention.
Thanks for putting him into this new role Lance exulted over the prospect for growth in the market for private impact assets, also underscoring that such progress is only a result of team efforts. “This is quite really a true honor for me to head this new platform bringing close to 80 investment specialists together. Merci for the trust Philippe Zaouati.”. Yes, actually it’s a very competitive private assets market, the one where one has to keep step and develop strategy hand-in-hand with the teams on how to get closer to this roadmap, getting leadership in this segment-for sure-Lance said.
Also placed in focus is the newly-launched platforms for Mirova’s possibility of taking an overall strategic view at the real asset markets. Mirova aggregates its divisions into three lines: Energy Transition Infrastructure, Natural Capital, and Private Equity. This is how Mirova gains cross-sectoral expertise and amplified operational efficiency in line with the company’s central objective to support impactful investments characterized by both financial returns and measurable positive impacts both on the environment and society.
Since its inception, Mirova has always focused on the themes of sustainability in investment management and innovation in investment management. As part of one of the world’s leading asset managers, Natixis Investment Management, Mirova has maintained the ESG principles ahead of all its investments and strategies. The real assets platform, however, is another step forward from the firm towards its vision for 2030 and then.
The move also reflects the emerging role of private assets in a response to global challenges; these include climate change and biodiversity loss, social and economic inequality, among many others. As investors continually seek opportunities that resonate more with their values and fit into a more sustainable tomorrow, firms like Mirova are well-placed to capture this demand. Possessing a clear roadmap toward this direction and an integrated organizational structure, the company is ready to take immense strides in the impact market for private assets.
All strategic moves by Mirova would be an attempt to take the lead in the pace of the industry where innovation and sustainability meet. The real assets platform, first of all, speaks to the seriousness of the firm towards its sustainability commitments and, subsequently, shows it is properly prepared to face change in an increasingly dynamic environment. Under Lance, true significant steps on sustainable investments will be made in the platform and driving and catapulting Mirova toward her mission: building a more inclusive and resilient financial ecosystem.