Francis H. Byrd

Francis H. Byrd Email and Phone Number

Partner, Alchemy Strategies Partners LLC @
Francis H. Byrd's Location
New York City Metropolitan Area, United States
Francis H. Byrd's Contact Details
About Francis H. Byrd

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 & Trust Funds and the NYC Pension Funds); 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 mattersKey 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 matters

Francis H. Byrd's Current Company Details
Alchemy Strategies Partners, LLC

Alchemy Strategies Partners, Llc

Partner, Alchemy Strategies Partners LLC
Francis H. Byrd Work Experience Details
  • Alchemy Strategies Partners, Llc
    Partner
    Alchemy Strategies Partners, Llc Dec 2017 - Present
    Greater New York City Area
    Francis Byrd of Alchemy Strategies Partners, LLC, a former Director with TIAA’s Investment Stewardship Group, has more than two decades of shareholder engagement experience, as well as wide-ranging exposure to the E and S of ESG. Alchemy Strategies Partners, LLC based in New York, provides ESG and shareholder engagement, strategic governance and proxy advisory services to his clients.
  • Byrd Governance Advisory
    Principal Consultant
    Byrd Governance Advisory Jan 2015 - Nov 2017
    Greater New York City Area
    Provided consultation on board governance assessments, institutional investor engagement, executive compensation and shareholder resolution management. Offered advice on shareholder relations, corporate governance and ESG issues to asset managers, asset owners and corporate issuers.Recent Activities:*Quoted by American Banker, in an article entitled: Why advocates of splitting chairman, CEO roles are gaining ground by Andy Peters, March 28, 2017*Co-authored "Living in the Eye of the Hurricane: A Review of 2016 Proxy Season and A Look Ahead at 2017" with FleishmanHillard, March 2017* Quoted in Agenda, a Financial Times Service, story entitled: "Tillerson Pay Package Structured to Avoid Conflicts" by Gavin Pierce, January 8, 2017Quoted in Bank Director article entitled: "Can This Relationship Work?"on the roles of the Chairman and CEO, by John Engen, 4th Quarter 2016 (November)*Panelist, International Corporate Governance Society (ICGS), at Bentley University, on “Taking Stock of Corporate Governance Research”, October 1, 2016
  • Tiaa
    Director, Corporate Governance
    Tiaa Apr 2014 - Dec 2014
    Greater New York City Area
    Served as a Director of TIAA's Corporate Governance Team. Was involved in the management and execution of ESG (environmental, social and governance) policies related to TIAA-CREF’s global active equity ownership activities, and engagement with domestic and non-U.S. portfolio companies.
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  • Office Of The Treasurer, State Of Connecticut
    Assistant Treasurer For Policy
    Office Of The Treasurer, State Of Connecticut Feb 2013 - Apr 2014
    Hartford, Ct
    The Assistant Treasurer for Policy leads the Policy Unit of the Connecticut State Treasurer’s Office. The Policy Unit serves as the primary public policy development and research arm of the Treasury. The Assistant Treasurer is responsible for oversight and day-to-day management of the unit, focusing on corporate governance initiatives and engagement for the $26 billion (UAM) Connecticut Retirement Plans & Trust Funds’ (CRPTF), financial literacy and education issues and relationships with Congress and federal regulatory bodies. The Assistant Treasurer also serves as the Treasurer’s designated representative on selected boards, commissions and public authorities.
  • Laurel Hill Advisory Group
    Senior Vice President, Corporate Governance & Risk Practice Leader
    Laurel Hill Advisory Group Sep 2010 - Nov 2012
    New York, New York
    Provide advice to publicly-traded companies on governance risk offering recommendations on changes the board of directors and senior executive management can undertake to strengthen board governance and protect themselves from shareholder activists.Accomplishments:(1). Worked with the NYSE-Euronext to develop a series of webcasts and blogs on corporate governance issues for the member corporations.(2). Developed a webinar series with the Accelus division of Thomson Reuters that explores corporate governance issues of concern to public company directors. The Thomson Reuters “Knowledge Center” series is on-going for 2013.(3). Developed two industry leading e-newsletter: Laurel Hill’s “BYRD Watch”. The e-newsletter was distributed to a list of over 12,000 professionals active in the corporate governance, investor relations, and proxy solicitation fields, as well as lawyers in the corporate and securities practice. Served as primary writer, editor and article concept developer.(4). Advised dissident investor on director nominee selection for short slate and recruited the lead independent nominee for dissident campaign.(5). Member of the team that developed Continuing Legal Education program (“Laurel Hill University”) with presentations designed to educate law firms and inside counsels on various corporate governance issues: Executive Compensation/Say-on-Pay, Proxy Access, Corporate Governance issues as a potential disruptors of M&A transactions and Director Involvement in Shareholder Engagement.
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  • The Altman Group (Now Known As Ast Fund Solutions)
    Managing Director
    The Altman Group (Now Known As Ast Fund Solutions) Feb 2009 - Aug 2010
    Greater New York City Area
    Conducting detailed evaluations of corporate governance identifying strengths and risks while assisting boards and senior executive corporate leadership with developing guidepost for dialogue with shareholders on key governance issues such as executive compensation, strategic planning, risk management succession planning. Providing analysis and insight for corporate directors and senior management on the perspectives of a company’s governance quality as viewed by governance rating firms (e.g. RiskMetrics, Glass Lewis), public/union pension funds, activist investors and credit rating agencies.Accomplishments: (1) Developed, edited and serve as columnist for weekly electronic newsletter, the Governance & Proxy Review, distributed to over 18,000 corporate executives and professionals in the fields of governance, finance and law.(2) Spearheaded lobbying efforts at the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission seeking reform and refinement of the rules governing shareholder communications and stock ownership disclosures.(3) Assisted in drafting The Altman Group’s proposal to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regarding needed reforms to the shareholder communications process and equity ownership disclosure rules.
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  • Byrdgovernance
    Chief Consultant
    Byrdgovernance Mar 2008 - Feb 2009
    Providing governance analysis and communications expertise to not-for-profit and community-based organizations.Lecturer/Speaker on governance, strategic planning, succession planning and communications.
  • Moody’S Investors Service
    Vice President, Corporate Governance Specialist Team
    Moody’S Investors Service Nov 2003 - Dec 2007
    Greater New York City Area
    Provided analysis on governance concerns relating to credit issues as part of the credit rating committee process for Moody’s rated companies. Authored over 100 published assessments of the governance attributes and practices of Fortune 1000 companies. Conducted, as team leader, in-depth interviews, on board governance, of chief executive officers, corporate directors, corporate secretaries, general counsels and internal auditors. Directed, as lead governance analyst, the work of senior, associate analysts, and interns in drafting special reports, assembling and reviewing data. Researched and wrote special comments on topical issues in corporate governance, such as incentive compensation for outside directors, governance in various industry sectors, the affect of shareholder activism on bondholders and the use of outside advisors and consultants by corporate boards. Conducted firm-wide training of credit analysts in the identification and assessment of governance issues.Accomplishments: (1) Forced re-examination of credit ratings, on basis of corporate governance weakness, at several issuers resulting in lowered or constrained credit ratings for evaluated companies.(2) Several evaluated issuers initiated changes in their corporate governance structures and processes as a result of assessments conducted under my direction as lead governance analyst.
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  • New York City Comptroller’S Office - New York City Pension Funds
    Special Assistant For Pension Policy/Associate Staff Analyst
    New York City Comptroller’S Office - New York City Pension Funds Jun 1993 - Nov 2003
    Responsible for the execution of corporate governance, corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and proxy voting for the NYC Retirement Systems; negotiated significant corporate governance reforms with corporate secretaries/general counsels, CEOs and lead directors of several Fortune 1000 companies. Conceptualized and designed financial performance screens utilized in the selection of companies for the NYC Retirement Systems’ focus list; and analyzed the global marketplace to determine trends in corporate governance. Identified and prepared annual review of new governance and CSR issues and proxy voting guidelines for city pension fund trustees. Other major responsibility involved managing relationships with city pension fund trustees, institutional investors and investment managers on behalf of the Comptroller.Accomplishments: (1) Co-authored shareholder resolution at calling for a mandated communication process between independent directors and shareholders. The proposal became the basis for stock exchange mandates requiring disclosure of communication protocols for shareholders seeking communication with the board of directors. (2) Oversaw management of Vote-No campaign against the directors of Louisiana-Pacific that garnered one of the largest No-Vote (33%) against a sitting board of directors.

Francis H. Byrd Skills

Corporate Governance Mergers And Acquisitions Investor Relations Risk Management Governance Securities Leadership Management Investments Strategic Planning Strategy Executive Management Analysis Portfolio Management Equities Emerging Markets Corporate Social Responsibility Public Speaking Ipo Financial Services Capital Markets Business Strategy Mergers Consulting Research Management Consulting Nonprofits Public Policy Financial Risk Policy Social Media Due Diligence Corporate Finance Strategic Communications Project Management Corporate Communications Non Profits Private Equity Media Relations Hedge Funds Corporate Law Asset Management Crisis Communications Policy Analysis Competitive Analysis Rating Investment Management Persistence

Francis H. Byrd Education Details

Frequently Asked Questions about Francis H. Byrd

What company does Francis H. Byrd work for?

Francis H. Byrd works for Alchemy Strategies Partners, Llc

What is Francis H. Byrd's role at the current company?

Francis H. Byrd's current role is Partner, Alchemy Strategies Partners LLC.

What is Francis H. Byrd's email address?

Francis H. Byrd's email address is fb****@****ill.com

What is Francis H. Byrd's direct phone number?

Francis H. Byrd's direct phone number is +134768*****

What schools did Francis H. Byrd attend?

Francis H. Byrd attended Hunter College.

What are some of Francis H. Byrd's interests?

Francis H. Byrd has interest in Children, Director Shareholder Communications, Economic Empowerment, Civil Rights And Social Action, Politics, Board And Governance Assessments, Education, Environment, Poverty Alleviation, Executive Compensation.

What skills is Francis H. Byrd known for?

Francis H. Byrd has skills like Corporate Governance, Mergers And Acquisitions, Investor Relations, Risk Management, Governance, Securities, Leadership, Management, Investments, Strategic Planning, Strategy, Executive Management.

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