Earlier today, ISS named Georgina Marshall as its new Head of European Research. She is currently Regional Head of Corporate Governance for Aviva Investors, a global asset manager with a track record of leading corporate governance and responsible investment practices. Ms. Marshall will assume her new ISS role in January 2012 and will be based in London.

“The U.K. and Continental European markets have played an important role in the development of global corporate governance standards and Aviva Investors has been one of the institutions at the forefront,” Gary Retelny, President of ISS, said in a press release. “Georgina has a proven track record of successfully leading corporate governance initiatives, in establishing best practices and in working with fund managers to integrate governance into the investment management process. We are pleased to have someone of Georgina’s caliber at the helm of our European policy development and governance research.”

On behalf of its institutional clients, ISS performs research and issues proxy vote recommendations on more than 10,000 European companies. Reporting to Dr. Martha Carter, ISS’ Head of Global Research, Ms. Marshall will lead the research teams that are based in London, Brussels, and Paris and cover the U.K. and Continental Europe. She will also have a role on ISS’ Global Policy Board and will oversee ISS’ issuer engagement activities.

In addition to her 10-year tenure at Aviva Investors, Ms. Marshall held IT and Finance roles at Swiss Re and at Mercantile and General Re Insurance. She is a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW), and member of ICAEW Faculty of Finance and Management. She graduated with honors from the University of Exeter.