Skip to main content

Special Presentation: Edelman Trust Barometer

Listen in as Edelman’s Josh Hochberg, General Manager of Financial Communication, New York, and Heidi DuBois, Head of ESG, as they discussed the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Institutional Investors, which identifies pivotal issues shaping investment criteria and how to build trust with the investment community. For the report, Edelman surveyed 600 institutional investors across six global markets representing over $20 trillion in assets.

Key Findings:

      • Investors apply a premium valuation to firms that successfully navigate environmental, social impact and governance (ESG) initiatives.
      • Investors temporarily deprioritized ESG practices during the global COVID-19 pandemic but believe as we recover, both their firms and their investments will prioritize ESG with renewed vigor.
      • Investors are particularly focused on social factors, which jumped in rank to number one from number three as the most important ESG factor in the U.S.
      • Additionally, investors agree that profitable companies do not get a pass on ESG.

Date

Jan 13 2021
WATCH THE REPLAY

Speakers

  • Heidi DuBois Heidi DuBois Executive Vice President & Head of ESG, Financial Communications & Capital Markets, Edelman
    Heidi DuBois
    Heidi DuBois
    Executive Vice President & Head of ESG, Financial Communications & Capital Markets, Edelman

    Heidi DuBois is an environmental, social and governance (ESG) expert with two decades of experience in the legal, corporate governance and sustainability areas. Heidi has advised numerous companies on ESG strategy, execution and reporting; engagement with investors and other stakeholders; and partnerships with NGOs and civil society organizations to advance ESG objectives. ​

    Heidi is passionate about defining the evolving role of business in society, grounded in the proposition that companies with a clear sense of purpose are better positioned for long-term success. As Head of ESG Heidi works with boards and senior executives on the design, execution and communication of their ESG strategies to multiple stakeholders. Prior to joining Edelman, Heidi was ESG Director for the Society for Corporate Governance, where she developed new programs and managed thought leadership and engagement on emerging ESG trends for boards of directors, business leaders, and corporate governance professionals. Previously, she oversaw the corporate social responsibility and philanthropic functions for BNY Mellon and was instrumental in redesigning the firm’s approach to ESG reporting and communications, as well as executing partnerships with external stakeholders, including the United Nations Foundation. She also co-authored reports on the opportunities inherent in gender-lens investing, one of which launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos.​

    Earlier in her career, Heidi practiced law at Debevoise & Plimpton before serving in positions of increasing responsibility in governance and sustainability at Assurant and PepsiCo. She helped establish the Berkeley Sustainable Business and Investment Forum, focusing on evolving concepts of risk management, capital allocation, and sustainable business practices as contributors to long-term value creation. ​

    Heidi holds an A.B. from Harvard College and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. She serves on the Advisory Boards of the Business in Society Institute at Berkeley Law School and the GreenBiz GreenFin Summit. She is a past member of the Aspen Institute Business and Society Leaders Forum, a past president of the New York chapter of the Society for Corporate Governance, and serves as a Trustee for the Unitarian Church of All Souls.

  • Josh Hochberg Josh Hochberg General Manager, Financial Communication, New York, Edelman
    Josh Hochberg
    Josh Hochberg
    General Manager, Financial Communication, New York, Edelman

    Josh Hochberg is the General Manager of Edelman’s Financial Communication practice in New York. Josh combines his background in finance, capital markets and public policy and corporate orientation to develop and lead integrated communications campaigns and investor relations programs. Josh has extensive expertise advising C-suite executives and boards of directors on communications during sensitive situations, including shareholder issues, shareholder activism, IPOs, contested and friendly M&As, spin-offs, restructurings, bankruptcies, and other corporate crises. 

    Josh joined Edelman after more than 13 years at Sloane & Company, where he was a Managing Director and head of the capital markets and investor relations practice. Prior to joining Sloane & Company, Josh was a founding partner of Vistance Group, a boutique corporate communications firm, and a senior member of Fleishman Hillard’s corporate communications practice. Josh graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis.