The PRI Leaders’ Group showcases signatories engaging in leading responsible investment practices based on an annual theme. Leaders are identified by their responses to the Reporting and Assessment Framework. As a result of the strategic improvements made to the 2023 Reporting Framework, a Leaders’ Group will not be identified in 2023, while we review the methodology used to identify leadership to ensure the process remains fair and fit for purpose.
About the PRI Leaders’ Group
As part of our 10-year Blueprint for responsible investment, the PRI committed to showcasing leadership and increasing accountability, with a view to raising standards of responsible investment amongst all our signatories. Extensive consultation (PDF) with signatories showed strong support for the PRI to use the reporting and assessment process to further differentiate signatories at different stages of implementing the Principles. This included showcasing leadership to share good practice and encourage other signatories to improve their performance.
The Leaders’ Group aims to annually showcase signatories at the cutting edge of responsible investment, and highlights trends in leading signatories’ practices. Signatories’ reporting responses and assessment data are used to identify those that do great work in responsible investment, both across their organisation, and with a particular focus on a given theme each year.
- In 2019, the theme for the inaugural Leaders’ Group was asset owners’ selection, appointment and monitoring of external managers. View Leaders’ Group 2019.
- In 2020, the theme was climate reporting. All investor signatories – asset owners and investment managers – were eligible. View Leaders’ Group 2020.
The 2021 Leaders’ Group, with stewardship as the annual theme, was cancelled following issues identified with the 2021 dataset. Significant efforts were made to improve the quality of the 2021 dataset, which delayed the release of signatories’ 2021 reporting outputs to September 2022.
Methodology used to identify the 2019 & 2020 Leaders’ Group
To be considered for the Leaders’ Group, signatories were required to first meet the thematic screening criteria. You can find the screening criteria listed in the Leaders’ Group Report for 2019 and 2020.
From the pool of signatories meeting the screening criteria, a combined score using responses from across the Reporting Framework was used to identify the Leaders’ Group, taking overall performance into account:
| COMBINED SCORE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Strategy & Governance 25% | Implementation 50% | Transparency 25% |
|
|
|
Next steps for the Leaders’ Group
Extensive signatory feedback on the 2021 pilot Reporting Framework has been addressed to improve the reporting experience for signatories in 2023, including key changes to reduce the reporting effort for signatories. Most notably, this involved the decision to remove asset class reporting for Asset Owner signatories, which means the previous methodology used for identifying a Leaders’ Group is no longer applicable.
Following the launch of the improved Reporting Framework in 2023, we will work to assess how our accountability work can best cater to signatories and serve the mission of the PRI in light of these changes. Our primary focus will be to ensure that future developments are fit for purpose in showcasing leading practices, catering to signatories and advancing the PRI’s mission. This includes analysis of the latest available reporting data that reflects the changes in our signatory base and broader market developments since reporting last took place in 2021.
Frequently asked questions
Are there any other ways that the PRI recognises leading practices in responsible investment?
All investor signatories receive scores based on their reporting to the PRI in their Assessment Reports. We encourage signatories to publish the scores that they have received in their Assessment Report to demonstrate their performance in responsible investment and stewardship practices. For more information on publishing assessment scores, please read the PRI’s publication guidelines, outlined under ’Sharing Assessment Reports’ in the Frequently Asked Questions section.
Will there be a Leaders’ Group in 2024?
The future of the Leaders’ Group will be reviewed in 2023. Our primary focus for the review is ensuring that it remains fit for purpose in recognising and highlighting leading responsible investment practices and effectively delivering on the PRI’s mission. All future developments will be based on analysis of the latest data and considerations to determine how we may best achieve this. However, the work to determine what this review will look like is still ongoing.
We will provide further updates on the next steps of the review to all signatories as work progresses.
