Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla, took to Twitter on Sunday to thank Hiromichi Mizuno for his “excellent contribution” to the company. Mizuno is a former chief investment officer at Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), which manages one of the world’s largest pension funds.
Mizuno has been an advocate for sustainable investing and played a key role in GPIF’s decision to invest in companies that meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria. In 2020, GPIF announced that it would double its ESG investments to ¥30tn ($280bn) by 2023.
Tesla has long been seen as a leading player in the push towards sustainable energy, with its electric vehicles and renewable energy products. The company recently reported record quarterly deliveries despite disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Musk’s tweet comes as Tesla prepares to report its fourth-quarter earnings this week. The company’s stock has surged more than 700% over the past year, making it one of Wall Street’s most valuable companies.
While Musk is known for his controversial tweets and public spats with critics and regulators, his praise for Mizuno underscores Tesla’s commitment to sustainability and responsible investing. It also highlights the growing importance of ESG considerations among investors worldwide.