EUROPE – US proxy research and institutional voting services firm Glass, Lewis & Co. has opened a European headquarters in London.

It will be co-headed by senior Europe analyst Carla Topino and director of European sales and client services Johanna Milne. Milne, most recently at index group FTSE, was formerly director of European sales and marketing at rival firm Institutional Shareholder Services, Glass Lewis said.

The three-year old firm is also opening an office in Tokyo headed by its senior advisor in Japan, Professor Masayoshi Takechi.

“The new offices are part of Glass Lewis' plan to augment its international research teams, composed primarily of lawyers and bankers from across the world, with regionally-based experts on corporate governance,” it added.

“The international offices also will provide operational support for all proxy voting processes, including custodian relations, custom policy implementation, vote execution, record-keeping and reporting.”

Glass, Lewis & Co. serves institutions that collectively manage more than $11trn. It’s advised by former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Arthur Levitt.