Stephen Corr joins SWIP from BlackRock where he was director and portfolio manager for EAFE/ACWI from 2001, with responsibility for portfolio management and research of pan-European, Canadian and global material stocks. Prior to this he was an analyst for Franklin Templeton. In his new role Corr will aim to help drive forward SWIP’s global alpha investment strategy.

James Kinghorn joins SWIP from the Scottish Investment Trust, where, from 2002, he was senior investment manager for North and Latin American equities. In his new role Kinghorn will take on manager responsibility for a number of SWIP’s global funds.

Both Corr and Kinghorn will report to Mike McNaught-Davis, head of international equities.

Craig Bonthron joins SWIP from Kleinwort Benson Investors, where he was portfolio manager for the global water fund and worked on a number of other environmental vehicles.

SWIP said it is looking to expand in this asset class, particularly developing strategies in global, EAFE and SRI equities.

SRI investing or ethical investing - in line with environmental, social and governance criteria - is gaining popularity. BlackRock’s iShares unit is launching a pair of sustainable exchange-traded funds on the London Stock Exchange, saying that the launches are a response to high SRI demand.