ION Influencers Fireside Chat with Marcia Ellis and Benjamin Fox: Asia Funds ESG + Sustainability Trends

MoFo partner Marcia Ellis and global co-chair of the Social Enterprise + Impact Investing practice Benjamin Fox are featured in the latest ION Influencers Fireside Chat hosted by Giovanni Amodeo, CIO at ION Analytics.

In this engaging conversation, Marcia and Benjamin shared their insights on how ESG and sustainability expectations are shifting for fund managers globally, how GPs assess risk and pursue value creation, and the key findings from MoFo’s Asia Funds ESG + Sustainability Survey 2025.

They discussed the shift in terminology, particularly the move in the U.S. toward “sustainability” and “responsible business.” They also noted that, despite fluctuating LP pressure, Asian GPs are facing increasing regulatory obligations, including new climate risk and emission reporting frameworks.

Marcia and Benjamin also examined how Asia-based fund managers are operationalizing ESG in governance and transactions. They highlighted the increasing establishment of ESG committees staffed by senior investment professionals, as well as the importance of firmwide training to embed ESG practices across functions. On the deal side, they noted that ESG factors are now integrated into diligence. They also underscored that preparing portfolio companies for exit with ESG in mind from day one can support smoother sale processes and preserve valuations.

The conversation further explored topics such as (i) responsible tech and AI, with Asia GPs focusing on data privacy while U.S. and European investors increasingly consider environmental and social impacts; (ii) the exploding demand for data centers in Asia and challenges sourcing renewable power; and (iii) the changing greenwashing landscape, with heightened regulatory scrutiny and the need for being more conscious of sustainability claims.

Listen to the full Fireside Chat.