Consumer finance expert announced as new advisory board chair

Consumer finance expert, Rebecca O’Connor has been announced as the new chairperson of Castlefield’s external advisory committee.

Castlefield set up an External Advisory Committee in 2018 to provide impartial governance and oversight of how (Environmental, Social and Transparency & Governance) E.S.T. factors are incorporated into investment decision-making.

As head of pensions and savings for the investment platform Interactive Investor and a co-founder of Good With Money, Rebecca’s insights on consumer thinking have been invaluable to the committee - Rebecca has been a member of the advisory committee for three years.

Castlefield was established in 2002 as an ethical investment management business, specialising in ethical investing. As a pioneer in this field, the proprietary B.E.S.T. investment process was developed in-house to consider both the financial and non-financial metrics when appraising investments.

Alongside providing an independent external perspective, the advisory committee provides an additional level of expertise and challenge to investment and research decisions.

After three years in the role, Kevin Davies stepped down as Chairperson of Castlefield’s External Advisory Committee in September 2021.

Kevin was the Committee’s first chairperson and was instrumental in ensuring the successful launch of the committee. We are very grateful to him and thank him sincerely for his contribution. Kevin will remain on the committee for a further three-year term.

Former advisory board chairperson, Kevin Davies, said: "It has been a privilege to have been the first chairperson of the Castlefield External Advisory Committee. I am grateful to the committee members for their generous and insightful contributions to what are often complex discussions. It was especially encouraging to welcome a new member, Ilma Nur Chowdhury, to the committee.

"We all look forward to continuing to support the work and development of CEAC over a further term under Rebecca’ O’Connor’s capable oversight.”

Becky O’Connor said: “I am delighted to take the reins from Kevin as chair of the ethical advisory committee and look forward to leading future sessions, discussing key topics of relevance to Castlefield Investment Management.”

The committee meets twice a year and currently includes a range of industry leaders, academics and charity trustees. Biographies for external advisory board members can be found here.