Ireland’s opportunity for green asset managers to be highlighted in New York


27 Nov 2012

The Green International Financial Services Centre (GIFSC) is launching its Global Roadshow at the Irish Consulate in New York City this Thursday, November 29.

The breakfast briefing will be hosted by John Bruton, President, IFSC Ireland, former Taoiseach and former EU Ambassador to the US.

According to Stephen Nolan, executive director of the Green IFSC, the opportunities for global investment fund managers in the area of green, cleantech and sustainability investment to establish operations in Ireland are considerable.

“Ireland has an unrivalled proposition with a funds industry servicing €2.2 trillion in assets,” said Nolan. “Within the emerging green and climate change finance sectors, Ireland offers a unique blend of expertise and proven experience in inter-related financial and industrial sectors including fund administration, asset management, project finance, renewable energy origination, turbine manufacture, equipment leasing, insurance and securitisation.”

Nolan also pointed to Ireland’s world-class renewables and cleantech enterprise sector, citing pioneers such as Mainstream, Glen Dimplex, WaveBob and OpenHydro, all active across the globe.

“As a result, Ireland offers an unparalleled talent pool of people, professional services and services providers with the necessary expertise to support the international and domestic development of green asset management.”

It is the combination of these two sectors that sets Ireland apart, he said. “A new breed of asset manager is being born. and Ireland is the incubator.”

 Also taking part in the briefing are:

  • Joseph Salvatore, Bloomberg Clean Energy Economics & Capital Markets will set the scene for the opportunities as part of the global transition to a low carbon economy.
  • Samir Pandiri Executive Vice President Asset Servicing – Americas, BNY Mellon Asset Servicing  
  • Steven A Falci, CFA Head of Strategy Development Sustainable Investment Kleinwort Benson Investors
  • Garrett Monaghan, a Partner in the Arthur Cox Projects and Energy Group; Arthur Cox is a leading “all island” Irish law firm with offices in Dublin, London, Silicon Valley and NYC
  • Alex O’Cinneide was up to November 2012 the General Manager of Masdar Capital, the private equity arm of Masdar.  
  • David O’Brien, Director, BlackRock Renewable Power

The GIFSC is a public/private partnership initiative of the Department of An Taoiseach tasked with positioning Ireland as the leading jurisdiction globally for green finance by creating the optimum regulatory, commercial, skills and resource efficiency framework.