Trucost's Board of Directors demonstrates a broad range of academic and professional disciplines with a strong emphasis on economics and the finance industry.
Richard Mattison, Chief Executive Officer
Richard Mattison is one of the founding directors of Trucost. He is a member of the UK Government's Sustainable Development panel and is a regular public speaker on environmental issues. Richard has a PhD in Neuroscience and a BSc (Hons) in Physiology from Edinburgh University.
Christopher Roper, Executive Chairman
Christopher Roper, director of Trucost since 2006 and founder of Landmark Information Group, the market-leading provider of property related environmental risk information took over as Trucost's executive chairman in 2010. Christopher remains a non-executive director of Landmark, which was acquired by the Daily Mail and General Trust. He is also a non-executive chairman of PointX, a joint venture between Landmark and Ordnance Survey, as well as being a non-executive director of Registry Trust Ltd.
Alastair MacGregor, Chief Operating Officer
Alastair oversees Trucost's large bespoke projects as well as developing Trucost's partner network. He has 10 years' experience as an investment manager active across a range of sectors including FMCGs, automotive, technology, machinery and basic materials. Prior to joining Trucost in 2011 he was a sustainability consultant. He is a CFA charterholder and holds an MSc in Economics for Natural Resource and Environmental Management from Cranfield University. He also holds a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry from Newcastle University.
Lauren Smart, Executive Director
Lauren heads Trucost's global business development and partnerships teams. She also serves on Trucost's board and senior managment team. Prior to joining Trucost in 2005, Lauren was a Senior Investment Associate in the Global Equity Research division at Putnam Investments and was a consultant at the UK Government's Department for International Development. Lauren holds a BA (Hons) and MA from Cambridge University in Archaeology and Anthropology and an MSc from the London School of Economics in International Development and Anthropology.
The Hon Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of The Corporate Library, an independent research firm focusing on corporate governance. Prior to this he served as a consultant with Lens Governance Advisors, founded and owned by pioneering shareholder activist Robert A.G. Monks. Richard has an extensive background in politics and government service as well as a wide range of private sector experience. A former President of the Maine Senate, Richard Bennett has been elected to four terms in the Maine Senate and two terms in the Maine House of Representatives. He has a BA Hons from Harvard University and an MBA from the University of Southern Maine.
Gordon Buchanan
Gordon Buchanan is a Partner of Sciens Capital Partners, a New York private equity firm. Previously, he was a founding member of Mitchell Madison Group, a niche strategy consultancy, after working for 10 years at McKinsey & Co. Gordon has an MBA and an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia.
John Higgins
John Higgins is President, Chief Investment Officer and principal owner of Ram Trust Services, Atlantic Financial Services and Ram Trust Company, an investment and financial services advisory group located in Maine, USA. He also serves as a director of The Corporate Library, a consultant with Lens Governance Advisors and a general partner of Ram Equity Partners. He has a BA Hons in History from Harvard University.
Richard Holmes
Richard joined the Board in 2007 as marketing director, responsible for the development of the global brand and for marketing and PR activities in all countries. He previously worked for Boots where he held a number of marketing roles over ten years, including being responsible for the launch of their Advantage Card programme. Prior to this, he worked for 13 years for global manufacturing giant, Unilever, based in London, Paris and Milan focusing on fast moving consumer goods.
Andrew Jacobs
Andrew Jacobs, a founding director of Trucost, has over 20 years experience as a stockbroker and entrepreneur. In 1995 he founded Lok'nStore, the AIM listed self-storage company. Prior to this, Andrew was an Executive Director at Nomura International. Andrew has an MPhil in Economics from Cambridge University and a BSc in Economics from London School of Economics.
Mike Thomas
Mike Thomas has been CEO of CMi since 1998 and is currently responsible for the Food Safety Division of NSF-CMi outside the USA. He is also Non-Executive Chairman of Neqtar Ltd, a wine producing and distribution company. Between 1990 and 1998, he was Managing Director of the Sutherland Consultancy specialising in due diligence work for venture capital firms. He was educated at Haberdashers Aske's school, Kent School USA and Oxford University.
Simon Thomas
Simon Thomas, a founding director of Trucost, has 24 years senior business experience in the financial, publishing and self-storage industries. Simon is a regular commentator on the quantification of environmental impacts and he frequently addresses the investment and corporate community on SRI and CSR-related issues. Previously, Simon co-founded the Emerging Markets Investment Trust business at LCF Edmond de Rothschild and he has held senior positions at Swiss Bank Corporation, Nomura International and Reed International.