Francis Byrd has more than two decades of experience in the corporate governance and ESG fields possessing a wide perspective on the goals and motivations of institutional investors and corporate issuers. Francis has held responsible positions with top institutional investors (TIAA, the Connecticut ...more

Francis Byrd has more than two decades of experience in the corporate governance and ESG fields possessing a wide perspective on the goals and motivations of institutional investors and corporate issuers. Francis has held responsible positions with top institutional investors (TIAA, the Connecticut Retirement Plans assessed governance quality at North America's largest companies on behalf of bondholders and creditors (at Moody’s Investors Service) and advised corporate public issuers on how to respond to and engage with activist investors, ESG advocates, shareholder proponents and proxy advisor firms (at proxy solicitation/shareholder communications firms The Altman Group and Laurel Hill Advisory). In 2014 and 2010, NACD Directorship identified Francis as a D-100 governance professional and one of a group of 30 “People To Watch”, respectively. As Managing Partner at Alchemy Strategies Partners LLCs, Francis provides strategic advice on shareholder communications, engagement strategy and investor relations to corporate issuers and investors for publicly-traded companies. Francis also provides assessments of internal governance and strategic counsel to private equity General Partners. Francis also serves as a Senior Consultant for Integrated Compliance Solutions Group LLC, Francis works with ICSGroup’s corporate, pension plans and investment advisory clients providing the following: Assessing internal governance policies Developing ESG monitoring practices, and; Strategic advice on governance-related matters Key Specialties: * Shareholder engagement between institutional investors and corporate issuers. * Integration of ESG principles into the investment process. * Assessment of firm governance and board oversight * Strategic advice on governance-related mattersless