INVESTMENT ASSOCIATION APPOINTS NEW DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS
The Investment Association (IA) has appointed Karen Northey as its new Director of Corporate Affairs. Karen will be joining the trade association’s Executive Committee in March from the London Stock Exchange Group, where she is currently Head of Government Relations & Regulatory Strategy, Asia Pacific. In her new role, Karen will head up the Corporate Affairs function, which includes communications, digital, government affairs and European affairs for the IA.
Having qualified as a lawyer in Canada and the UK, Karen is an experienced legal, regulatory and policy expert in financial services. She has held positions in government relations, investment fund policy as well as international and regulatory strategy, in senior positions at the FCA and BT.
Chris Cummings, Chief Executive at the Investment Association, said: “I am delighted that Karen is joining us at this important time for the industry. She is a proven industry advocate and has a deep understanding of the regulatory and policy environment, and skills which will complement the existing team’s expertise. Her European and international experience, of Brussels, China and across Asia will be of great assistance to the organisation’s ability to represent members’ views in key markets.
“The industry is going through a period of transformative change. Sustainability and responsible investing practices are at the heart of firms’ operations, we are seeing rapid adoption of technology to better serve clients, and innovation in products and solutions is reinforcing the UK’s pre-eminence in investment management globally. These changes mean our advocacy work is now more crucial than ever. Karen’s expertise will help shape how we promote investment management and engage with our stakeholders. She will also be a valuable member of the Executive team where she will support and help drive the IA’s broader business strategy.”
Karen Northey said: “Investment management is an industry that is integral to the wellbeing of our society and the UK’s economy. The IA has been a strong voice in representing the sector across the policy and regulatory landscape, both in and outside of the UK.
“I’m excited to be joining the team at a time when the industry is facing a lot of change and opportunity in areas such as sustainable finance, diversity and inclusion; and as the UK establishes itself on the global stage post-Brexit. I also look forward to leading the Corporate Affairs team to help promote the industry’s important role in society and the valuable contribution that this sector makes.”
ENDS
Karen Northey biography
Karen Northey will join the Investment Association from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) where she was most recently Head of Government Relations and Regulatory Strategy, Asia Pacific. She initially joined LSEG as Head of China within the International Markets Unit with responsibility for LSEG’s strategic projects in China including the London Shanghai Stock Connect - a landmark project linking UK and Chinese capital markets.
Previously, Karen worked at the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority where she held a number of roles including leading the FCA’s international relations function and the asset management and funds policy team. Prior to the FCA, Karen spent several years at British Telecom both in London and Hong Kong with her most recent role being Global Head of Regulatory and Government Affairs. She holds a BA and LLB/JD from the University of Ottawa and an LLM from the London School of Economics and is a qualified solicitor in England and Wales and in Ontario, Canada.
For further information, please contact:
Katie Martin, Head of Communications: [email protected]
T: +44 (0)20 7269 4655
Navdeep Sidhu, Corporate Affairs Manager: [email protected]
T: +44 (0)7939 011 050
About the Investment Association (IA):
- The IA champions UK investment management, supporting British savers, investors and businesses. Our 270 members manage £9.4 trillion of assets and the investment management industry supports 114,000 jobs across the UK.
- Our mission is to make investment better. Better for clients, so they achieve their financial goals. Better for companies, so they get the capital they need to grow. And better for the economy, so everyone prospers.
- Our purpose is to ensure investment managers are in the best possible position to:
- Build people’s resilience to financial adversity
- Help people achieve their financial aspirations
- Enable people to maintain a decent standard of living as they grow older
- Contribute to economic growth through the efficient allocation of capital.
- The money our members manage is in a wide variety of investment vehicles including authorised investment funds, pension funds and stocks and shares ISAs.
- The UK is the second largest investment management centre in the world, after the US and manages over a third (37%) of all assets managed in Europe.
