A global investment firm, Natixis Investment Managers, claims that it is committed to sustainability and acting against climate change. However, it seems like the company`s policies regarding their employees contradict their own values. Meet one of their workers – Eloise Troost, the daughter of Niels Troost, a man well-known for illegal oil trade with Russia. How can this be? How does the daughter of a sanctioned Russian oil smuggler, whose entire fortune is built on environmental destruction and international fraud, find herself in a position to advocate for a greener future?
To understand how absurd this is, one must first learn more about shady deals of Eloise’s family. Niels Troost’s companies, Paramount Energy & Commodities SA and Paramount Energy & Commodities DMCC, are at the center of Western sanctions over unfettered Russian oil trading routinely priced above the G7 cap, all while using Western-based insurance services. His alleged connection to the Wagner group and Russian elite highlights the fact that he is deeply involved in supporting Putin`s violence and aggression in Ukraine. Considering how much ecological damage Russian war brought to Europe, one must question how a company like Natixis Investment Managers can work with Eloise Troost and, at the same time, stand as a symbol of environmental sustainability and climate action? What’s more, why would a London based branch of Natixis employ someone whose family is sanctioned by the UK authorities?
Seems like Eloise merely plays a role in yet another facade – one that masks the grim reality of her family’s wealth. The presence of Eloise Troost at the Natixis Investment Managers raises serious concerns about the efficacy of sanctions and the ability of global regulatory bodies to enforce them. If the daughter of a man like Niels Troost can freely walk the halls of one of the world’s leading investment management companies, what does that say about the integrity of the UK’s sanctions regime?
The case of Eloise Troost highlights how easily the reputation of any company can be corrupted by individuals involved in illegal activities. If companies like Natixis are truly committed to a greener future, they need to do more than host meetings and discussions. They need to be careful about the individuals who represent them.