IMDDA's Second Annual Survey On Sexual Harassment In The $95 Trillion Global Investment Management Industry Reveals Progress In Uncovering Harassment, But Challenges Remain

NEW YORK, Dec. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- More and more professional investment allocators are directly asking about sexual harassment during the fund manager due diligence process, while a rising number of allocators – nearly 1 in 10 -- upon identifying sexual harassment issues would still invest with a given manager. 

Those are two key findings of the just-released, second annual sexual harassment survey conducted by the Investment Management Due Diligence Association (IMDDA), the exclusive investor-based organization dedicated to the professionals who perform investment and operational due diligence programs. 

"Progress Achieved – Challenges Remain" reveals institutional fund allocators doing a better job of identifying sexual harassment issues at investment management firms they allocate to on behalf of their beneficiaries – but still needing to do more to respond when such problems are uncovered. 

"IMDDA's second annual survey of sexual harassment demonstrates that the global institutional investor community is continuing its efforts to uncover and react to instances of sexual harassment uncovered during the due diligence process," said Andrew Borowiec, Executive Director of the IMDDA. "The full impact of sexual harassment is, first and foremost, on the victim or victims and that must be addressed," he said. 

"Investors need to maintain their moral and ethical responsibilities while making sure not to ignore fiscal responsibilities. This survey shows we are moving in the right direction," Borowiec said. 

"Progress Achieved – Challenges Remain" seeks to define the risks of complacency regarding sexual harassment and recommends ways that professional allocators can improve Operational Due Diligence to discover, respond to, and seek to prevent workplace harassment in its various forms whenever and wherever it occurs. 

Highlights of the 2019 IMDDA Sexual Harassment Survey

• 26% of allocators inquire about sexual harassment, vs. 11% in the 2018 survey.
• 9% of allocators would still invest with a manager that has workplace sexual harassment issues, vs. 4% in the previous study. 
• 45% of due diligence pros – vs. 18% in 2018 data -- said they would dig deeper if people said they do not wish to answer questions regarding sexual harassment.
• 76% of investors check social media and lawsuit history for red-flag indicators of sexual misconduct, from 63% in the previous survey. 

The risks of ignoring sexual harassment at investment management firms can be devastating for allocators. These risks include negative media coverage, reputational damage, tough questions and actions from investment committees, protests from beneficiaries, and allegations that professionals simply did not do their job. 

In response to some of the findings from the survey, the IMDDA provides recommendations on how investors can improve their ODD processes, including examining HR processes, asking why departures have happened, and interviewing former employees. 

Global Institutional Investor Respondents 

In response to the rise of the #MeToo movement in 2017, the IMDDA commissioned anonymous surveys of due diligence professionals at institutional allocator firms. In this new 2019 survey, 78 investors participated representing endowments, pensions, insurance companies, private banks and fund-of-funds. The geographic breakdown of respondents was: 55% North America, 24% Europe, 9% Asia/Australia, and the balance in Africa/Middle East/South America. 

Click here to download the 2019 survey.

About the IMDDA
Founded in 2015, the Investment Management Due Diligence Association® (IMDDA) is the only international investor-centric organization dedicated exclusively to due diligence professionals. The IMDDA's mission is to work with the investment management community to set the standards for due diligence globally. Through its professionals-only membership, seminars, web site, customized educational training and Chartered Due Diligence Analyst (CDDA) certification program, the IMDDA provides a forum for interaction among peers to share ideas and learn from each other while developing extensive curriculum and standards for due diligence professionals. 

CONTACT

Thomas Walek
Peaks Strategies
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[email protected]

SOURCE Investment Management Due Diligence Association