James Hart was appointed as Investment Director of Witan Investment Trust plc in April 2015. Together with the CEO, he is responsible for the oversight of Witan’s investment portfolio, including direct holdings in specialist investment companies and funds. In addition, he has primary responsibility for Witan’s ESG and stewardship activity. Prior to Witan, James worked at Cayenne Asset Management Ltd as a Portfolio Manager specialising in listed investment companies and as an emerging market specialist and Head of Funds at Bank Julius Bar (London) Ltd.

Why is corporate culture becoming more important to you when deciding who you allocate assets to?

Integrity is the most valuable quality that an investment professional can possess. Investment firms without this embedded in their culture will not be aligned with their clients and will fail to navigate the path to long-term, sustainable cash flows to the benefit of all stakeholders. I am therefore drawn to managers whose culture is aligned with these principles.

In your view, why is it important to set a higher standard of stewardship and behaviour within the investment industry?

The investment industry holds a unique position in the financial system. Responsible investors aim to make well-informed investment decisions that ensure that the pursuit of prosperity for shareholders is not achieved at the expense of the environment or the wellbeing of society. We believe companies which disregard this will fail to deliver sustainable returns to shareholders. As allocators of capital, it is our responsibility to identify issues at investee companies and engage accordingly. This engagement can only be successful if investors practice what they preach, as hypocrisy commands little respect.

Why did you decide to sit on the ACT Stewardship Council and what does it mean to you personally?

The ACT’s three pillars speak to the essence of a progressive and inclusive investment industry, where talent and integrity are key to the resilience and success of individual firms and the wider industry. As an industry, we provide a service which is essential to the financial wellbeing of countless individuals, but which is often misunderstood or mistrusted. Promoting these core values will ultimately benefit companies, employees, shareholders and clients alike.