CalPERS loses CIO

Russell Read, the chief investment officer for the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), has resigned to pursue his long-standing interest in environmental and cleantech investing.

George Diehr, investment committee chair for CalPERS, said: “We wish Russell well in the next chapter of his professional career. He has great enthusiasm for environmental and clean technology investments and we look forward to hearing about his future endeavors in sustainability investments as that sector grows in the capital markets.”

Read joined CalPERS in June 2006, after serving as deputy chief investment officer for Deutsche Asset Management and Scudder investments.

CalPERS is the US’ largest public pension fund with assets totaling more than US$244bn.