Legal & General Capital appoints new head of sustainability

Legal & General Capital (LGC) has appointed John Alker as its new head of sustainability.

Mr Alker joins the business in August from the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), where he is currently director of policy and places.

He has also served as board director for the World Green Building Council.

Prior to joining UKGBC, Mr Alker worked on sustainable homes and carbon trading for the environmental charity WWF-UK, has worked as a researcher in the House of Commons, and in commercial public affairs.

In this new role, he will act as the strategic sustainability lead within LGC, challenging the business to continue to set ambitious sustainability commitments, and bringing his expertise to drive their delivery.

Beyond environmental sustainability, his remit will also include the measurement and articulation of the social impact we deliver across LGC’s broader strategy.

Last year Legal & General pledged that it will make all of its new housing stock operational net zero carbon enabled by 2030, implemented in a phased approach across all homes invested in or built by the Group including: Build to Rent, Build to Sell, later living, modular and affordable housing.

Earlier this year it announced that Inspired Villages, LGC’s later living business, has started on site to deliver the UK’s first net-zero retirement community, demonstrating LGC’s approach to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. With the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) taking place this November, we believe that now is the time to act and make real progress with science-based targets in order to create a greener, cleaner future for our society.

‘We are delighted to welcome John to the business,’ said LGC chief executive, Kerrigan Procter.

‘His experience in working collaboratively across the construction and real estate industry to drive real improvement in environmental outcomes is exactly in line with our continued drive to deliver the societal benefits of quality, affordable housing for all and regenerated towns and cities. John’s expertise makes him well placed to maximise the advantages within our housing and urban regeneration businesses in order to deliver on our ambitions for improved social and environmental outcomes.

‘John will play a crucial role in ensuring that our sustainability commitments are delivered as well looking at further ways that our platform can help to transform climate change. We have a real opportunity to use LGC’s diverse sources of capital to build back better and seek out new transformative sustainable investments.’

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