Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) launched its environmental, social and governance (ESG) services practice, led by Julie Hertzberg, managing director. The ESG Services practice will be integrated with A&M’s financial, operational and industry expertise, in an approach to meet the ESG needs of private equity firms, their portfolio companies, corporate clients and organizations across multiple industry sectors and geographies.

A&M ESG Services will focus on assisting clients with ESG assessments, disclosures, strategies, diligence and initiatives that enhance ESG ratings and performance.

“A&M’s ESG offering is rooted in our integrated platform and our ‘leadership, action, results’ credo,” Tony Alvarez II, CEO and co-founder of Alvarez & Marsal, said. “It dovetails with the turnaround, transaction and transformation know-how A&M is known for. Julie’s proven leadership at the C-suite and board level positions A&M to deliver ESG solutions built upon the firm’s legacy of practicality and results-driven approach.”

ESG veterans Rich Goode and Vic Svec join as managing directors within A&M’s ESG Services practice alongside Hertzberg.

Prior to joining A&M, Goode served as a managing director with EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services practice. While there, he developed ESG programs for large organizations across multiple sectors including pharmaceuticals, financial services, and diversified industrials. Prior to that, Goode had served as the global head of sustainability at Alcatel-Lucent, leading the company to be named to the CDP Leadership and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes and recognized as a top five greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting program in the Environmental Investment Organization’s Global 800 Report.

Svec had more than 30 years of ESG, investor relations and corporate communications experience with multiple Fortune 500 companies. He previously served as senior vice president of Global Investor and Corporate Relations at Peabody Energy, which was recognized by Institutional Investor Magazine as best in its sector for ESG disclosures. He also led an initiative to align the global industry to develop an inaugural set of responsible industry principles.

“Our ESG practice complements the firm’s key lines of service to help clients maximize valuation, reduce the cost of capital, manage risks and strengthen supply chains. Rich’s and Vic’s collective expertise catapults our ability to protect and create value for clients at every stage of their ESG journey. Together with them, I look forward to helping our clients build better companies,” Hertzberg said.