IFM Investors appoints new director to the Board

Global fund manager IFM Investors is pleased to announce that Ms Theresa Whitmarsh, Executive Director of the Washington State Investment Board (WSIB), has been appointed to the IFM Board as an independent director, strengthening IFM’s representation from the United States as we continue to position ourselves for global growth.

Ms Whitmarsh has led the WSIB for almost two decades, during which time the organisation has been a top-ranked investor of retirement plans and other public trust funds on behalf of state and public employees, teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, judges and others.

Ms Whitmarsh is a recognised thought leader on issues of vital importance for long-term investors, including value creation in global markets, enhancing shareholder rights through corporate governance, and aligning fiduciary duty and investment discipline with an evolving focus on sustainability.

With decades of experience in the pension capital sector, as well as investing in private markets, like private equity, Ms Whitmarsh’s expertise is aligned with IFM’s shareholders and heritage, and her skills and values will help support IFM to continue delivering on its purpose, which is to protect and grow the long-term retirement savings of working people.

Ms Whitmarsh is the second IFM Board member from North America and starts on the board from today. Her appointment increases the number of IFM Board members from eight to nine – a majority of whom are women.

Established more than 25 years ago by a group of Australian industry pension funds, IFM invests on behalf of more than 500 institutional investors globally, representing the retirement savings of more than 30 million people worldwide.

IFM has grown to be one of the largest private owners of infrastructure in the world, reflecting IFM’s sustained global growth over the past three decades as a reliable and trusted fund manager.

Quotes attributable to IFM Investors Chair Greg Combet:

“I’m delighted that Ms Whitmarsh is joining IFM as an independent director. Her skills and experience as a steward of investments will be a great asset to IFM, as we continue to pursue a global growth strategy, in fulfilment of our purpose to protect and grow the retirement savings of working people.”

“Ms Whitmarsh is a global leader in the public pension capital sector and has a record of delivering incredible results – having someone of her calibre and with her values on the Board positions IFM well now and into the future.”

Quote attributable to Ms Whitmarsh:

“It is a great honor to join the Board of IFM Investors and I look forward to making a lasting contribution, particularly at such an exciting time in the life of IFM.”

For media queries, please contact: Phil Davey +61 414 867 188.

About IFM Investors:

IFM Investors was established more than 25 years ago with the aim to protect and grow the long-term retirement savings of working people. Owned by a group of Australian pension funds, the organisation has A$150 billion under management as of 31 December 2020. Because IFM is owned by industry pension funds, we prioritise the interests of 500 like-minded investors worldwide by focusing on assets that combine excellent long-term risk/reward characteristics with broad economic and social benefits to the community. As a signatory to The United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment, IFM actively engages on ESG issues with the companies in which we invest with the aim of enhancing their net performance while minimising investment risk. Operating globally from offices in Melbourne, Sydney, London, Berlin, Zurich, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul, Amsterdam and Tokyo, IFM manages investments across infrastructure, debt, listed equities and private equity assets. For more information, visit www.ifminvestors.com.

Biography of Ms Theresa Whitmarsh

Ms Whitmarsh is the Executive Director of the Washington State Investment Board (WSIB), which in her nearly two-decade tenure she has built into one of the most successful and respected institutional investors in the world. Under her leadership, AUM has increased from USD$50 billion to over USD$165 billion and WSIB is top-ranked for investment performance among US public pension funds over 20 years.

She is Chair of FCLTGlobal, Vice Chair of the Millstein Center for Global Markets and Corporate Ownership at Columbia Law School, and a member of the World Economic Forum.

Previously, she has chaired the Council of Institutional Investors, the Pacific Pension and Investment Institute and was a director of the International Centre for Pension Management in Toronto. She served a five-year term as an external advisor to the investment committee of the large Dutch pension fund, ABP.

Ms Whitmarsh holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Seattle Pacific University and a Masters in Business Administration, Innovation and Technology Management, from Pacific Lutheran University.