Atkin took up the role at the global responsible investment association in December 2021 and extended his original four-year term by six months, but will step down next year.
He was previously the deputy chief executive of AMP Capital, reporting to AMP Group chief executive Francesco De Ferrari, prior to the appointment of Shawn Johnson in July 2021.
He also worked as the chief executive of multiple superannuation funds, including 12 years at Cbus as well as Media Super and ESSSuper.
As the PRI is headquartered in London, Atkin said on LinkedIn that “the time is approaching” for him to return to his family in Australia.
Supported by the United Nations, the PRI works to understand the investment implications of responsible investment factors and to support its international network of investor signatories in incorporating these factors into their investment and ownership decisions.
Conor Kehoe, PRI board chair, said: “David’s leadership has been transformative for the PRI, guiding us through significant changes in the signatory base, and now in the sustainable investment environment. His vision, dedication, leadership, and his relationships in the asset owner community have given the PRI the potential to increase the range and depth of its impact.”
Atkin said: “It’s been an honour to lead the PRI through this important phase. We are at a critical inflection point for responsible investment. Together with our signatories and the wider responsible investment community, there is a lot of work to do in the next 12 months. I am committed to driving the PRI’s success ahead of its 20th anniversary and ensuring a seamless transition for the next CEO.”
The PRI said it has initiated a search for his replacement and has engaged business consultancy Korn Ferry to lead the task.
Atkin’s predecessor Fiona Reynolds, who spent nine years as PRI CEO, is also based in Australia and is now a director at the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute, independent director at Frontier Advisors, and chair of the ESG Advisory Group at Qualitas.
