Petra Funds Group, a leading independent private funds administrator, has launched its Outsourced ESG Director Services, offering private equity and private credit managers advanced ESG and sustainability expertise. This new offering will be led by Tamara Close, a former senior executive at PSP Investments and ESG consultant, and is aimed at providing comprehensive support to firms in North America.
The Outsourced ESG Director Services will offer private funds access to experienced ESG professionals on a fractional basis, acting as an extension of a firm’s internal team. The service is tailored to support firms regardless of whether they have in-house sustainability executives, offering end-to-end solutions in ESG strategy, due diligence, value creation, portfolio monitoring, exit planning, and regulatory reporting. It also provides advisory services for launching sustainable and impact funds.
“We continue to see increasing demand from private funds for sustainability expertise in North America due to the evolving expectations of limited partners and regulators,” said Stephen Coats, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Petra. “This service is designed to provide firms with access to seasoned sustainability professionals in a flexible and cost-effective way, whether they need temporary or extended support, ensuring the implementation of top-tier ESG programmes.”
Charlie Chipchase, Managing Director and Head of Europe at Petra, emphasised the importance of Close’s leadership: “Tamara’s experience as a capital allocator and advisor to leading GPs gives her very relevant insight into what LPs look for when it comes to the sustainability characteristics of the funds they invest in. She will be instrumental in the launch of this new offering – we are thrilled to welcome her to Petra.”
With over 25 years of experience in financial markets and ESG strategy, Close’s background is rooted in high-level advisory roles across public and private asset classes. Before joining Petra, she founded Close Group Consulting, an ESG advisory firm, and held senior leadership positions at PSP Investments, Bank of Montreal, and Credit Lyonnais. She is also a member of the Global ESG Technical Committee for the CFA Institute.
“I’m excited to join Petra at a pivotal time for ESG and sustainability in the private funds industry, where the growing focus on these areas requires deeper knowledge and expertise,” said Close. “Petra’s progress in the ESG space has been remarkable, and I look forward to collaborating with clients to deliver unmatched value and service.”