Harneys Fiduciary Joins Forces with Ascentium in Expanding Global Presence and Service Offerings

SINGAPORE, April 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ascentium, a leading global business services platform headquartered in Singapore, is pleased to announce it has joined forces with Harneys Fiduciary, a global provider of corporate, funds and trust services. This collaboration brings together our complementary strengths and shared commitment to delivering exceptional service and innovative solutions to our clients worldwide.

The Harneys Fiduciary and Ascentium partnership represents a significant milestone in its commitment to delivering comprehensive business solutions on a global scale. It brings an expansion of the firm’s offshore service offerings, focusing on corporate administration, trust, and fiduciary services in key jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Hong Kong SAR, and Singapore worldwide.

Lennard Yong, Founding Management and Group CEO of Ascentium, stated, “We are delighted to welcome Ross and the Harneys Fiduciary team. Their offshore expertise aligns perfectly with our mission to provide comprehensive business solutions globally. It strengthens our ability to serve clients across multiple jurisdictions, further reinforcing Ascentium’s position as a leader in the industry.”

Ross Munro, CEO of Harneys Fiduciary, commented, “Joining forces with Ascentium amplifies our vision and reaffirms our commitment to delivering market-leading client services. This presents an incredible opportunity to take our offering to the next level in our 50th year of operations. We have gotten to know the Ascentium team well and are confident that this development will enhance our capabilities, enabling us to provide tailored solutions to our clients worldwide.”

This strategic initiative underscores our dedication to excellence in serving our clients and partners effectively. With a strengthened service platform catering to over 30,000 active clients in various industries, and a team of 2,000 professionals operating from 44 cities across 22 markets, Ascentium is well-equipped to drive impactful growth and success for our clients globally.

About Ascentium

Ascentium is a leading global business services platform dedicated to helping businesses scale greater heights. Headquartered in Singapore, we empower extraordinary growth through specialised expertise across corporate, HR, accounting, tax, private client/family offices, advisory, cross-border/FDI, risk assurance, and audit services. Our team of 1,800 professionals spans 37 cities across 14 markets in the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East, serving over 30,000 active clients across diverse industries. Through innovative, technology-enabled solutions and a collaborative approach, Ascentium drives transformative growth, helping clients navigate complex global environments.

For more information, visit: ascentium.com

About Harneys Fiduciary

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Established in 1974, Harneys Fiduciary is a global offshore business services provider to corporate, fund, and private clients, specialising in the provision of corporate administration, trust, and fiduciary services in the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Hong Kong, and Singapore, among other key jurisdictions.

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LONDON, April 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The world’s largest asset holders, institutional investors and real estate pioneers gathered at a series of roundtable discussions to address the industry’s biggest challenges and opportunities around ESG, decarbonization, and financial risk. The exclusive events were organized by BuildingMinds, the AI-powered real estate data platform which is transforming asset valuation and assessment.

The first discussion, ESG Innovation for Logistics Owners & Occupiers, was moderated by Emily Jones, Vice President at NW1 Partners, and welcomed a host of the logistics industry’s most senior names: Logan Smith, Senior Managing Director -Logistics at Hines Europe; Oliver Winchcombe, Head of Portfolio Management and ESG at Panattoni UK; Melissa Mikulic, Real Estate ESG Manager at Zurich Insurance; Harvey James, Country Lead, UK & Ireland at BuildingMinds.

Participants discussed how grid modernization, automation, and new infrastructure, such as solar-powered warehouses, are shaping the industry. The logistics sector is one of the biggest contributors to global emissions but is also undergoing rapid transformation.

Sustainable supply chains are no longer optional—they are a business must-have—and over half of logistics operators are already transitioning to electric fleets. With the fast-moving change in logistics ESG is now a key factor in investment decisions, as asset owners and occupiers race to meet regulatory and investor demands.

The second panel discussion, headed A Sustainable Future for Commercial Asset Owners, welcomed notable industry thought leaders from the sector: Marjolijn Versteegden-Bakker, Global Solutions Director for Smart Buildings, Arcadis; Ludger Wibbeke, Managing Director at HANSAINVEST Hanseatische Investment; and Ana Luisa Cabrita, Head of Sustainability & ESG at Cushman & Wakefield.

They discussed how climate risk assessments and decarbonization strategies are now core factors in asset valuations, and how ESG compliance is driving investment decisions—not just risk mitigation. This led to discussions on how real-time carbon performance and biodiversity impact metrics can be used to shape asset financing. As commercial real estate shifts from reactive compliance to proactive ESG-driven asset management, demand is increasing for data transparency that delivers clear and measurable ESG impact.

Moving on from the commercial real estate sector, the discussions turned to hospitality and specifics around crafting sustainable real estate assets in this vibrant sector. Discussions were moderated by Julia Skeete, Senior Associate Principal, SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill), who was joined by a number of leading industry players: Nicolas Ledoux, Global Director Urbanism, Arcadis; Jean-François Ott, Chairman, Courbet Heritage; Richard Piovano, Vice President, Global Accounts Americas, Schindler; Jerzy Wójcik, CEO and Founder, JWA; José Pereira, Director Europe South, BuildingMinds.

The panellists discussed how sustainability is no longer a cost, but a value driver for guest experience and brand reputation. That means the sector must embrace sustainability to stay competitive and that, in turn, means green building certifications and energy-efficient designs are redefining hotels. There’s no question the future of hospitality lies in balancing environmental responsibility with luxury and guest comfort.

The final discussion in the series centred on ESG in Property Valuation & Risk Reduction. This session took place in partnership with RICS – The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and featured Jean-Philippe Carmarans, a Member of RICS European Leaders Forum, and also Chair of EMEA Valuation & Advisory at Cushman & Wakefield, as well as Jens Hirsch, co-founder of CRREM and Chief Scientific Officer at BuildingMinds.

Talking points centred on how to embed ESG considerations in property valuations to reduce risk and enhance asset performance. It’s an increasingly important aspect of the business, as regulators are incorporating ESG metrics into valuation frameworks. Owners are also seeing that sustainable assets command premium pricing and greater investor demand. This growing trend is one of the reasons behind BuildingMinds extraordinary success in recent years, as its AI-powered data solutions streamline ESG reporting.

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The industry must act now

There was universal agreement following the discussions that sustainability is not just about compliance—it is a pathway to long-term asset resilience, investment growth, and market leadership. This means that AI-powered ESG solutions are no longer optional, but essential for real estate investors looking to stay ahead. And those who fail to act risk falling behind in a world that becomes increasingly data-driven and sustainability-focused. Those leading the ESG transition now will dominate the real estate market of tomorrow.

For more information about BuildingMinds, visit www.buildingminds.com.

About BuildingMinds  

BuildingMinds is a real estate software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider that offers a comprehensive, AI-powered data-driven platform for optimizing building performance and sustainability. Through the integration of innovative technology and analytics, BuildingMinds enables real estate owners and managers to monitor, analyze, and optimize their assets, promoting the shift towards a more sustainable and data-driven real estate industry. 

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• Asset managers face the authenticity test: ESG is no longer enough
• In its seventh edition, the Responsible Investment Brand Index (RIBI™) 2025 evaluates 623 asset managers worldwide and highlights a positive, albeit contrasting, dynamic
• 30 new entrants join the “Avant-Gardist” category, now representing 20% of the sector
• The proportion of laggards falls to a three-year low
• Just over half of firms articulate a purpose, less than half translate this into values that distinguish them

GENEVA, April 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — RIBI 2025 highlights a major shift in responsible investment. It is no longer just about checking ESG compliance boxes, but about asserting a clear and sincere identity. The asset management industry is maturing into Responsible Investment 2.0, where authenticity, consistency and strategic clarity increasingly define leadership.

RIBI evaluates asset managers on Commitment to Responsible Investment (vertical, hard factors based on UN PRI data) and Brand (horizontal, objectified soft factors).

Seven companies maintain their place in the Top 10, while Nuveen, Mirova and Triodos make their notable entry. Nuveen is also the only American player in the global Top 10.

Top 10 Performers in RIBI™2025

1. DPAM
2. CANDRIAM
3. Pictet Asset Management
4. UBS Asset Management
5. Nordea Asset Management
6. Nuveen
7. Mirova
8. Robeco
9. Triodos Investment Management
10. WHEB Asset Management

Europe continues to dominate, with both Commitment and Brand ratings well above average.

• France overtakes Benelux to become the continent’s top-performing sub-region
• Japan shows the best integration of responsible investment, becoming the only country with no laggards
• The United States, despite having the largest number of asset managers, records the highest rate of laggards
• China, although still at a low level, is making significant progress and now scores better than the United States.

As ESG becomes more politicised, global firms face the growing risk of inconsistencies across markets. This year’s data confirms that a declared purpose alone is no longer enough. While a slight majority of asset managers (53%) now articulate a purpose, less than half (45%) back it up with value systems that help them differentiate. In a commoditised market, authenticity is emerging as the most sustainable source of strategic distinction.

RIBI 2025 includes specific perspectives with Top 10 rankings by country, by size and types of assets managed. The full 2025 Index, methodology and further information is available at https://www.ri-brandindex.org/

Join our Live Launch Webcast today at 15:00 CET: https://www.ri-brandindex.org/ribi2025-webinar/

Contact:
Media contact:
RIBI™ c/o Brand Affairs AG
pablo.morales@brandaffairs.ch
+41 44 254 80 00

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