Big Interview: Ruth Handcock of Octopus Investments on B Corps and private investments

CEO of investment business

In the self-described “fintech style” offices of Octopus, Ruth Handcock, CEO of the investment arm of the business spoke to Investment Week about how the somewhat painful process of becoming a B Corporation was worth it; why she is excited about private investments; and the area Octopus is most keen to focus on in 2022.

In August last year the Octopus Group announced it had received its B Corp certification. The certification is designed to help customers identify businesses that are meeting high standards of "verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials" according to B Lab, the charity behind the movement. For Octopus Investments, a key rationale for going through the process was "putting their money where their mouth is", Handcock explains. "We feel quite strongly about how we show up as ...