INDUSTRY MARKETING
SPECIALTY BRANDING & COMMUNICATION
PUTTING RESPONSIBLE PRACTICES INTO PLAY CHARLIE ITTNER Managing Partner Darien Group Los Angeles, CA
Evaluating ESG— environment, social, government—is necessary for business today CSA - Ittner
Charlie Ittner is the Founder and Managing Partner of Darien Group, a provider of communications and branding services to the financial services sector that specializes in private equity and real estate management. He has 15 years of experience in investment management marketing. Ittner began his career at Platinum Equity, serving for eight years as a chief lieutenant to the Founder and CEO and co-managing the firm’s internal and external communications programs, including marketing and branding, business development, investor relations, and media relations. He has also served as Director of Investor Relations for bkm Capital Partners and consulted for U.S. and international private equity and real estate investment firms to improve their brand platforms. Ittner holds an M.B.A. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and a B.A. in English Literature from Pomona College. He lives in Beverly Hills with his dog, Saoirse.
PHONE 310/247.1050 WEBSITE dariengroup.com EMAIL charlie@dariengroup.com
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C-SUITE ADVISORY
In recent years, ESG has become a popular topic of conversation in the corporate and investment worlds, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for companies to deny the benefits of incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance criteria into their business practices. Although previous beliefs posited that ESG considerations related only to societal and ethical issues, forward-thinking companies have discovered that ESG values also impact a company’s finances, reputation, and long-term growth. Furthermore, using ESG criteria is not only morally beneficial, it is also now a factor in institutional and highnet worth investors’ allocation decisions. Universal ESG standards exist to evaluate companies’ operations. The first letter in the acronym, E, considers how a company interacts with the physical environment. The second stands for social, examining how a company manages relations with its employees, suppliers, customers, and their communities. Governance, the third letter, contemplates and reviews a company’s leadership, executive pay, audits, internal controls, and shareholder rights. Broadly speaking, investors have been put-
ting more emphasis on identifying opportunities with firms that engage in sustainable practices and demonstrate conscientious behavior, both within their own walls and in the communities in which their investments have real, tangible impacts. Although there have been some mixed attitudes regarding the long-term impact of ESG standards in business practices, it is increasingly obvious that monitoring and policies around sustainability and corporate responsibility are no longer viewed as optional for businesses but should instead be regarded as a necessity. Shifting Positions Around ESG
Data from the 2018 survey conducted by the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing reveals that sustainable investing is gaining an increasing amount of value and recognition among businesses, investors, and institutional asset owners. The study shows that globally, more than $22.8 trillion is now sustainably invested, a sum that represents 25% of dollars under professional management.1 The 2018 Morgan Stanley survey polled 118 public and corporate pensions, endowments,
