By David G. Barry
The former head of environmental social and governance (ESG) at
the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) has a new role.
Lauren Gellhaus has joined institutional advisor Wilshire as a vice
president in its institutional practice. As a member of its client solutions
team, Gellhaus will focus on pension plans and report to Managing Director
Thomas Toth.
Gellhaus joined TRS in 2017 in investment operations after serving as head of
operations for Fulcrum Capital. She transitioned in 2019 to an investor role as
part of the External Public Markets team and in 2020, was tapped to be the $200
billion system’s first head of ESG.
She left in August. In a post on LinkedIn, Gellhaus called her time at the $200
billion system “an amazing chapter in my career.”
During her time at TRS, the system added ESG language to its Investment Policy
Statement and established a trust wide ESG Committee.
TRS has not indicated whether it will be naming a new head of ESG. It operates
in a state that has pushed back against ESG. Texas, in fact, was the first
state to pass anti-ESG legislation. It bars local authorities from doing
business with banks that have adopted ESG policies and divested from Texas
fossil fuel-based energy companies.
Wilshire also brought aboard Nathan Howes as a vice president on the
client solutions team. He will focus on non-profit clients and report to
Managing Director Rob Appling. Previously, Howes spent nearly nine years at
Mercer, most recently as a senior investment consultant.
Founded in 1972, Wilshire advises on $1.3 trillion and manages $84 billion in
assets. It serves more than 500 institutional and financial intermediary
clients from 10 offices globally.