The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) has named Cambria Allen-Ratzlaff as interim chief executive officer, succeeding David Atkin.
Allen-Ratzlaff, who is currently chief responsible investment ecosystems officer, will take on her new role on 1 December.
Atkin, who took over from fellow Australian Fiona Reynolds in 2021, completes a four-year term in December and will remain at the PRI as an adviser until April next year.
Allen-Ratzlaff joined the PRI nearly two years ago with nearly 20 years of experience in corporate governance, sustainable investment, and public policy at US pension and benefits funds.
Before joining the PRI she worked at JUST Capital, a not-for-profit research institution where she was managing director and head of investor strategies. She has also held senior roles at the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust and State of Connecticut Office of the Treasurer and has served on the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s investor advisory committee and the Council of Institutional Investors.
Conor Kehoe, PRI board chair, said Allen-Ratzlaff was “an exciting leader who already has a strong record of delivering impact”, noting that as a former employee of a PRI asset owner signatory, “she brings a clear understanding of signatory needs and a strong commitment to addressing them”.
Allen-Ratzlaff herself said she was “honoured to serve our signatories in this pivotal moment”.
“In this shifting geopolitical environment, we remain committed to supporting our signatories’ work in service of the long-term financial interests of their beneficiaries and clients,” she said.
“I look forward to working with our board and the exceptional global team at PRI whose expertise and commitment make the organisation a trusted partner to responsible investors around the world.”
Shake-up
Launched in 2006, as at the end of March 2025, the PRI counted more than 5,261 signatories managing over $139.6trn (€120trn), comprising 4,018 investment managers, 748 asset owners and 495 service providers. A total of 344 signatories joined the PRI in the financial year 2024-25, 40 of which were asset owners.
As reported when Atkin’s departure was announced, the organisation has gone through a major shake-up during Atkin’s time at the helm, introducing a new strategy with lighter reporting requirements for its signatories.
Today Kehoe said that Atkin had strengthened the PRI to serve a recently scaled up and more diverse signatory base, “while navigating a rapidly evolving regulatory and political landscape”.
“His recent work on the Future of Responsible Investment will help shape the organisation’s direction for years to come,” he said, referring to a strategic reflection process the PRI initiated ahead of its 20th anniversary in April of next year.
Atkin said: “It has been a true honour to serve PRI over the past four years. I’m delighted to see Cambria step into the role of interim CEO – her leadership, insight, and commitment to our mission make her exceptionally well-placed to guide the organisation through this next chapter.”
The PRI board is continuing its global search for a permanent CEO. If Allen-Ratzlaff ends up getting the job on a permanent basis there will be some disappointment that the organisation didn’t find someone from the emerging markets to lead it or someone with a background in European asset ownership, but Allen-Ratzlaff’s US background may be seen as coming in handy given the political pressure on sustainable investment there currently.
Atkin was the third Australian in a row to be PRI CEO.
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