Mercy Investment Services has landed a new chief investment officer after a five-month long search.
Lisa Laird, who most recently served as the chief strategist at Investment Office Resources, has officially joined Mercy, which manages investments on behalf of the Sisters of Mercy, a group of Roman Catholic nuns and their sponsored and co-sponsored ministries.
Mercy Investment Services is an impact investor, with a focus on the environment, clean energy, human rights, and healthy people and communities.
“Lisa’s experience, dedication to mission, and passion for human services closely align with the core of Mercy Investment Services’ work,” the organization said in its announcement. “She has a deep appreciation for our mission and support of the Sisters of Mercy and its ministries.”
Prior to her role at IOR, Laird spent nearly three years as principal and senior advisor at Hightree Advisors, an investment decision technology firm.
This is not her first go-around as a chief investment officer: Laird previously led the investment team at Providence St. Joseph Health, where she oversaw some $18 billion in assets across numerous accounts including, operating, insurance, defined benefit, and defined contribution assets. She helped create an executive team at Providence that supported its investment impact through screening, shareholder advocacy, proxy voting, and community investment. Prior to joining Providence, Laird served as a consultant for both Wilshire Associates and Willis Towers Watson.
Laird also contributes to the industry outside of her day job. She is the treasurer for the Seva Foundation, which supports an eye-care charity. She also is a member of the sustainability advisory committee at Loyola Marymount University as well as an ambassador for Girls Who Invest.
“Lisa’s robust investment experience will strengthen our efforts to expand our environmental, social and governance (ESG); thematic; and impact investing strategies,” according to Mercy’s announcement.
Diversified Search Group ran the search on behalf of the nonprofit.
