29 November 2022 – Paris Alignment & Impact Investing Adopters Forum in-person morning coffee with Nuveen

Impact in private equity: the market opportunity for climate and inclusion.

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Climate change, poverty and inequality are inextricably linked – and the defining issues of our time. We cannot generate inclusive economic growth and shrink inequality without addressing climate change, nor can we address climate change without ensuring all individuals, especially the most vulnerable, are resilient to its physical and transition impacts. Addressing these global macro-challenges in a commercial way is an attractive investment opportunity

Nuveen's Private Impact Investing team discussed the powerful investment and environmental solutions provided by private equity assets. This was then followed by a roundtable discussion with Q&A and shared insights, moderated by Charlotte O'Leary of Pensions for Purpose

Who was this event for?

This event was opened to asset owners such as pension fund trustees, consultants, in-house executives and advisers.

Speaker biographies

David Haddad, Co-Head of Private Impact Investing, Nuveen


David HaddadDavid is a Co-Head of Private Impact Investing. Prior to joining Nuveen, David was a partner at Olympus Partners, a middle-market private equity firm based in Stamford, Connecticut with over $8.5 billion in funds under management, where he worked for over 11 years. While at Olympus, he sourced, structured and executed numerous control transactions in the consumer, business services and specialty manufacturing sectors, and served on the boards of many portfolio companies. Before he joined Olympus, David was a Managing Director at Cornerstone Equity Investors, a middle-market private equity firm based in New York, where he worked for over 10 years, executing control transactions and later-stage growth equity investments in the healthcare, business services and specialty manufacturing sectors. Previously, he was an Analyst at Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co, a middle-market investment banking firm, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and refinancings of private companies. David graduated with a BA in Economics and Political Science from Duke University, North Carolina.

Rekha Unnithan, CFA, Co-Head of Private Equity Impact Investing, Nuveen

Rekha UnnithanRekha is the Co-Head of Private Impact Investing and a visionary, who established the intentional and leadership impact investing platform for TIAA and is responsible for executing Nuveen's private equity impact investing across Inclusive Growth and Resource Efficiency. Prior to joining Nuveen in 2012, she worked for Bank of America Merrill Lynch as a Vice President in the Institutional Investment Group. She has also held other positions at Merrill Lynch in Institutional Investments, and Investment Oversight and Risk Management. Rekha graduated with a BA in Economics from Yale University, and an MBA specialising in Financial Instruments and Markets, and Social Innovation and Impact from New York University's Stern School of Business. She holds the CFA designation. Rekha is a board member of Aeris, a non-profit organisation which helps investors make and monitor mission investments. Rekha is also on the Advisory Board of the Operating Principles for Impact Management and serves as the Chair of the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association's Impact Council.