CDPQ Names Sharon White as Head of Europe

Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec announced Wednesday that Sharon White will take over as managing director and head of Europe, effective January 27, 2025. White succeeds David Morley, who retired from the Canadian pension fund in April.

London-based White will coordinate CDPQ’s strategy with asset class leaders across the U.K., Europe and at the pension fund’s home in Montreal.

“Her expertise and collaborative approach will help play an important role in developing CDPQ’s global capabilities and contribute to our growth ambitions both in the U.K.—our largest investment destination outside of North America—and across Europe,” said Marc-André Blanchard, CDPQ’s global head and its global head of sustainability, in a statement announcing White’s appointment.

White was previously chair of the John Lewis Partnership, the U.K.’s largest employee-owned business, from 2020 until September. White was also the CEO of the U.K.’s Office of Communications and was the second permanent secretary of the Treasury. She had started her career in the foreign office and was a senior economist at the World Bank.

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“As one of Canada’s largest pension funds and a global leader in sustainable investing, CDPQ is delivering on its dual mandate of securing returns over the long term to ensure the financial future of over 6 million depositors while also contributing to the economic development of Québec,” White said in a statement. “The opportunity to contribute to this important mission—and continued growth of the group in the U.K. and globally—is one that I’m really looking forward to.”

White earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Cambridge and a master of science degree from University College London.

CDPQ manages C$452 billion ($322.94 billion) in assets, as of June 30, for more than 2.2 million beneficiaries. The fund allocated 16% of its portfolio to Europe, as of December 31, 2023.