John Wilson Named Head of Corporate Governance, Engagement & Research at Cornerstone Capital Group
New York, NY (PRWEB) April 24, 2014 -- Cornerstone Capital Inc. today announced that John K.S. Wilson has been appointed to the newly created position of Head of Corporate Governance, Engagement & Research at Cornerstone Capital Group, effective May 1st.
Mr. Wilson, who most recently served as Director of Corporate Governance at TIAA-CREF and currently holds the position of Assistant Adjunct Professor for Finance and Economics at Columbia Business School, will round out the Research team at Cornerstone and in addition will be joining the Executive Committee of the firm.
“The creation of this new position in the capital markets signals a recognition that excellence in corporate governance is among the most critical elements in the investment research field,” said Erika Karp, Founder and CEO of Cornerstone Capital Inc. “Fusing a deep understanding of corporate governance with the provision of differentiated financial analysis, is the only path forward for sustainable investment banking and investment management services.”
“I’m delighted to join a talented and motivated team of professionals dedicated to advancing the integration of sustainability into business and investment strategy,” said Mr. Wilson.
Mr. Wilson has extensive experience in socially responsible investing and corporate governance, serving for 5 years at TIAA-CREF, the largest private pension system in the United States with over $500 billion in assets under management. In that role, he oversaw the voting of shareholder proposals on social and environmental issues at CREF’s 8,000 portfolio companies, engaged in dialogue with corporate boards and management to promote sustainability and good corporate governance, and spoke and wrote to diverse audiences on these topics. Mr. Wilson also helped to develop the company’s sustainability policies and reporting in its Real Assets and Real Estate asset classes.
Prior to joining TIAA-CREF in early 2008, he served as Director of Socially Responsible Investing for Christian Brothers Investment Services, an investment advisor to Catholic institutions. He led the company’s shareholder advocacy, social screening and proxy voting functions and participated in the company’s outreach to religious communities around the United States.
Mr. Wilson is a member of the Advisory Council to the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board; is a past vice chair of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility and was a founding advisory committee member of the International SRI Working Group, a think tank serving social investing professionals. He has also served on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Human Rights Working Group and the UN Principles for Responsible Investment Clearinghouse Steering Committee. Mr. Wilson was a director of the Leviticus 25:23 Alternative Loan Fund, serving for a time as vice president.
Mr. Wilson received an MBA and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and a BA in English from Georgetown University.
About Cornerstone Capital Inc.
Founded in 2013, Cornerstone Capital Inc. is a New York based financial services firm offering investment banking, strategic consulting services – and in the near future, investment management capabilities. The mission of the firm is to bring the discipline of sustainable finance to the mainstream capital markets. With the systematic analysis of environmental, social and governance factors into the investment process, the Cornerstone Capital Group advises both investors and corporations on optimizing their financial and business decision-making processes. Cornerstone’s Board of Directors, Global Advisory Council and Staff partner with organizations including the World Economic Forum, the Clinton Global Initiative, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board and the Principles for Responsible Investment to work towards collaboration and transparency in the global capital markets. For more information, please visit http://www.cornerstonecapinc.com.
Media Relations, Cornerstone Capital Group, http://www.cornerstonecapinc.com, +1 (212) 874-7400 Ext: 122, [email protected]
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