State Street Global Advisors, the $2.8tn asset manager, has hired a sustainable investment specialist from rival BlackRock to run its environmental, social and governance efforts outside the US.

SSGA said in a statement that Carlo Funk joined earlier this month as head of ESG investment strategy in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He previously designed passive funds with a socially responsible tilt at BlackRock, and acted as the company’s sales specialist in the field for Europe.