Mr Hagart, who is currently head of environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk management at The Future Fund, will be replacing Ms Byrne, who is retiring from her CEO position at the end of October.
Ms Byrne announced her retirement in June, having spent more than five years in the role.
ACSI president Gerard Noonan said the ACSI board members were impressed with Mr Hagart’s understanding of ESG issues, his enthusiasm and his ability to promote the importance of collaboration into the wider public sphere.
Mr Hagart has considerable experience in improving ESG practices in corporations, recently leading the development and implementation of the ESG risk management program within the investment team of Australia’s sovereign wealth fund.
“Australia has a world-class pension system, and has become a centre of excellence in integrating ESG issues into investment decision-making and the exercise of ownership rights,” Mr Hagart said.
“ACSI and its members have been in the vanguard of those developments.”
