M&G plc has announced a leadership change at the helm of its sustainability agenda, appointing Marian D’Auria as its next Chief Sustainability Officer. The move signals the company’s intention to further mature its sustainability strategy at a time when regulatory expectations, investor demands and global standards for responsible investment continue to evolve. D’Auria will step into the position in 2026, taking over from the firm’s first CSO, Kathy Ryan, who stepped down earlier this year. The appointment marks a new phase for M&G as it integrates sustainability considerations across its investment activities, corporate operations and client offerings. D’Auria’s arrival is expected to sharpen the firm’s focus on risk-informed sustainability leadership and long-term value creation.

M&G introduced the role of Chief Sustainability Officer only recently, with Ryan taking on the inaugural position in 2023. Her tenure helped establish the foundations of the firm’s sustainability framework, laying out initial priorities and aligning sustainability workstreams across the business. With her departure, the firm has opted for a leader with a strong blend of risk management, sustainability experience and investment-sector credibility. D’Auria brings a track record shaped by senior roles that bridge sustainability, risk oversight and financial services. Her experience working with global industrial portfolios is seen as relevant to the complex ESG challenges facing diversified investment managers.

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Before joining M&G, D’Auria served as Global Head of Risk and Sustainability at GFG Alliance, where she oversaw environmental and social performance across a multinational industrial group. Her work involved addressing governance expectations, supply chain risks and transition-related factors on a global scale. She previously worked at Redington, where she was Managing Director within the investment consultancy’s leadership team. Earlier in her career, she spent several years at Deloitte, where she led the firm’s Trustee Advisory team in London, supporting clients on long-term funding strategies and risk assessments. These roles collectively position her to navigate the intersection of sustainability, financial stewardship and regulatory change.

Upon joining M&G in 2026, D’Auria will report to Group Director of Corporate Affairs, Louise Shield. Her mandate includes strengthening the integration of sustainability across the business, advancing climate and nature-related commitments, and ensuring M&G’s investment stewardship keeps pace with rising expectations from clients and regulators across Europe and global markets. The firm has made sustainability a growing component of its corporate identity, particularly as the financial sector faces heightened scrutiny over transition planning, greenwashing risks and responsible investment claims. D’Auria’s appointment suggests M&G is preparing for a more technical and risk-sensitive approach to ESG leadership.

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The appointment comes at a time when asset managers are encountering new standards on climate disclosure, nature-related risks and responsible investment practices. Firms are increasingly judged on their ability to integrate sustainability into mainstream decision-making rather than treating it as an adjacent function. With D’Auria set to join in 2026, M&G appears to be aiming for continuity while also elevating the level of expertise required to steer its sustainability strategy. Her background suggests an emphasis on transparent governance, credible reporting and the translation of sustainability commitments into operational and investment-level decisions. M&G’s leadership change reflects the broader evolution of sustainability roles within financial institutions. As expectations around ESG practices become more rigorous, the firm is positioning itself to deliver a more cohesive and data-informed sustainability agenda that is aligned with both client expectations and regulatory developments.

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