MONTREAL, April 25,
2024 /CNW/ - The HEC Montréal Foundation is
announcing a major partnership between the School and iA Financial
Group, marking a significant milestone in the development of
sustainable finance research at HEC Montréal. The $1 million donation will support, over a 10-year
period, the research activities of the Chair in Sustainable
Finance, which will henceforth be known as the iA Financial Group
Chair in Sustainable Finance. This funding will contribute to major
advances in this area of research, including the development of
cutting-edge knowledge in sustainable finance, training for
specialists in the field and knowledge transfer to the business
community.
"It is with a renewed sense of pride that I would like to thank
iA Financial Group for its unwavering support of the School. By
making such a generous commitment today to support research into
sustainable finance, our long-standing partner is giving us the
means to develop innovative solutions to meet the challenges facing
society today," said Michel
Patry, President and CEO of the HEC Montreal
Foundation.
A reference centre for sustainable
finance in Quebec
This support marks a decisive turning point for sustainable
finance research at HEC Montréal. This financial support will
strengthen two areas of research: the effect of taking
environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into account on
investment performance, and the effect of these same criteria on
investor decision-making. It will provide training for doctoral and
master's students, who will contribute to the advancement of new
knowledge in this fast-growing field of research under the
direction of Iwan Meier, professor
in the Department of Finance at HEC and Holder of the Chair in
Sustainable Finance.
"iA Financial Group's 10-year donation is a clear demonstration
of our shared ambition to make a significant contribution to the
development of knowledge in this field. This long-term commitment
ensures the continuity of our research efforts and our contribution
to moving the financial sector towards more sustainable practices,
both locally and internationally. The results of our research will
be put to use in the sustainable finance ecosystem and the
Quebec business community, with
the aim of stimulating innovation in the finance sector. They will
also be used to train the next generation of sustainable finance
specialists and to make this discipline a driving force for change
in investment strategy," said Iwan
Meier, Holder of the Chair in Sustainable Finance.
Building leading expertise in
responsible investment
The financial sector and investors play a crucial role in
achieving objectives in the fight against climate change. As part
of this effort, it is becoming essential for the finance industry
to develop knowledge in all the various facets of sustainable
finance, such as responsible investment strategies, financial
performance analysis, ESG risk management and even decarbonization
of investment portfolios and its impact on future performance.
" We're really pleased to be partnering with HEC Montréal to
provide long-term support for the important work of the iA
Financial Group Chair in Sustainable Finance. On one hand, the
orientations of this research chair are well aligned with iA
Financial Group's philosophy of responsible investment. And
secondly, investing in the development of people is at the heart of
iA's approach to being a learning organization. These two aspects
of the project confirm our positioning towards the integration of
ESG factors and sustainability at the heart of our decision-making
processes. We are all the more delighted to be able to carry out
this promising project with a partner of the calibre of HEC
Montréal, whose academic reputation is recognized worldwide," said
Denis Ricard, President and Chief
Executive Officer of iA Financial Group.
An event to celebrate this partnership will be held at
11:00 am at the HEC Montréal Hélène-Desmarais building in the
heart of the Montreal business
district. Media representatives are invited to attend the
event.
Details
When: Thursday,
April 25, 2024 at 11:00 am
|
Where:
Hélène-Desmarais building, 501 rue De La Gauchetière Ouest,
Montreal
|
How: Registration
mandatory
|
Stakeholders attending
- Denis Ricard, President
and CEO of iA Financial Group
- Federico Pasin, Director
of HEC Montréal
- Iwan Meier, Holder of the
Chair in Sustainable Finance
- Michel Patry, President
and CEO of the HEC Montreal Foundation
Learn more about the iA Financial Group Chair in
Sustainable Finance
About the HEC Montreal
Foundation
The mission of the HEC Montréal Foundation is to support the
School in developing the next generation of world-class business
professionals who will play an active role in social and economic
development in Quebec, as well as
in the international reputation of the institution. To
achieve its mission, the foundation mobilizes the community and
encourages generosity with the goal of financially supporting
students and developing study and research programs that are
challenging, high-performing and innovative.
About iA Financial
Group
iA Financial Group is one of the largest insurance and wealth
management groups in Canada, with
operations in the United States.
Founded in 1892, it is one of Canada's largest public companies and is
listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbols IAG
(common shares) and IAF (preferred shares).
SOURCE HEC Montreal