18 Oct 2022

PAI Partners, a pre-eminent private equity firm, today announces the appointment of Denise Odaro as Head of ESG and Sustainability to lead its ESG efforts at the firm and across the portfolio.

Denise brings over two decades of experience as a leader in ESG and sustainable finance. Most recently, she served as Head of Investor Relations and Sustainable Finance Coordination at the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, from 2012. In her role, she was responsible for the ESG and investor relations strategy underpinning IFC’s $17 billion annual funding program. She also led the coordination of sustainability integration across various industry groups and thematic areas at IFC and managed the sustainability ratings and impact reporting processes.

In addition, Denise has been a member of various ESG-related boards and advisory committees, including with the London Stock Exchange’s Sustainable Finance Advisory Group and Cornell University’s Emerging Market Institute. Denise has also chaired the Steering Committee of the Green, Social and Sustainability-linked Bonds Principle, hosted by the International Capital Market Association. She was a founding member of the Green Bond Principles Executive Committee and subsequently chaired the Social Bonds Working Group from 2016-2020.

Following Denise’s appointment, PAI’s dedicated ESG team will comprise four professionals with a combined 35 years of experience, located across Paris, London and Munich, allowing close collaboration with portfolio companies and the firm’s investment team. Denise will also be a member of the PAI Performance Group, the firm’s senior operations team.

Denise Odaro, Head of ESG and Sustainability, commented: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to join PAI Partners, a firm that has made immense efforts to integrate ESG into its investments and the private equity industry. This role offers the opportunity to use my global leadership experience in sustainability and finance to help shape the future of the real economy, which is where a truly transformative approach can have a powerful impact.”

Frédéric Stevenin, a Managing Partner at PAI Partners, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Denise to PAI. During her remarkable career, she has been a central figure in the development of the sustainable finance market. Her experience will be invaluable as we continue to bolster our commitment to fully integrate ESG into our policies, processes and outcomes, keeping sustainability at the heart of PAI’s investments.”