The Church Commissioners for England, which manages the Church of England’s £10bn endowment fund, has appointed Poppy Allonby as its new chief investment officer.
She will assume her new position at the end of September. Tom Joy, the previous CIO, held the post for 14 years and left in April.
Allonby has more than 20 years of experience in strategic leadership and investment roles.
She joins the Church Commissioners from T Rowe Price, where she is currently vice president and head of the ESG enablement remit, leading a team responsible for the firm’s sustainability strategy.
“This is a key appointment for us at the Church Commissioners, since the wise stewardship of the Church of England’s permanent endowment fund is at the heart of what we do – allowing us to support the church now and for generations to come,” said Gareth Mostyn, chief executive of the Church Commissioners for England.
Alan Smith, first church estates commissioner, added: “Poppy’s investment expertise coupled with her early and prescient focus on sustainable investment will be invaluable to us as we look to deepen and strengthen our commitment to values-based investment – because in our view, values drive value.”
Prior to joining T Rowe Price, Allonby spent more than twenty years at Blackrock, predominately in equity investment roles and latterly as head of global product group, EMEA & APAC.
Between 2014 and 2022, she was on the Church Commissioners’ board of trustees and a member of its assets committee.
“I am delighted and honoured to join the Church Commissioners as its CIO, an organisation globally recognised as a leader in sustainable investment,” said Allonby. “My focus will be on delivering strong, consistent returns to meet the Commissioners’ core purpose, which is to support the mission and ministry of the Church of England – and to do so in an ethical, sustainable way.”
The Church Commissioners has provided the Church with over £3.5bn in funding since 2009, with £1.2bn to be distributed during the current 2023-2025 triennium – a 30% increase on the previous triennium.
The fund has delivered 14 years of positive returns, while building a reputation as a global leader in responsible investment.
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