Mega-ESG: Carlyle, TPG Talk Culture and Responsibility

When TPG founder David Bonderman first asked Edward Norton to lead a responsible-investment initiative at the mega-firm, he made it clear that the ESG program was to be part of the business of the firm and to help investment professionals make better decisions, according to Norton, a Senior Advisor to TPG and one of three expert panelists in this fascinating conversation.

Norton is joined by Beth Lowery, also a Senior Advisor to TPG as well as Bryan Corbett, Principal for Government and Regulatory Affairs at The Carlyle Group. The three describe the genesis of their firms’ respective environmental, social and governance (ESG) functions, discuss the importance of firm culture and “tone at the top,” and share insights into the challenge of tracking portfolio company initiatives and measuring success.

(This is the first of a two-part series. Click here to read a report on responsible investing from PwC. Click here to learn about an ESG “tool” for private equity firms developed by the Environmental Defense Fund. Click here to access a report ESG in private equity from Malk Sustainability Partners and EDF).