Written by Larry G Stambaugh, Member of Corporate Directors Forum
Rich, you are deeply missed, and we honor the extraordinary contribution you made to elevating corporate governance in the United States. Your bold, unapologetic approach to addressing failed governance made you a true champion of transforming boards to build great companies.
I’ll never forget our first meeting when you were presenting CalPERS’ annual “Turkey” awards, recognizing the worst boards in America. That moment perfectly captured your essence—fearless in calling out governance failures and passionate about raising the bar for board excellence.
When I launched the CDF Annual Corporate Governance Conference, I knew I needed Rich on our conference committee. Together, we crafted panels featuring directors, shareholders, academics, and regulators—often in spirited disagreement before live audiences. Rich embraced every moment of this dynamic tension.
For ten remarkable years, I had the privilege of working alongside Rich as he helped shape our conference. He played a pivotal role in selecting provocative topics, securing top-tier speakers, and fostering an environment of civil yet passionate debate. When discussions grew heated—which they often did—Rich would simply smile, knowing that real progress comes from honest dialogue. Attendees consistently left with deeper understanding of different perspectives and often found themselves more aligned with opposing viewpoints than they’d expected.
Rich Koppes transformed public pension fund governance and established himself as a preeminent thought leader in shareholder rights. Throughout his 25-year career with California, including more than a decade at CalPERS, he championed corporate governance standards, proxy reform, and meaningful shareholder engagement. As founder and Executive Director of the National Association of Public Pension Attorneys (NAPPA) for 25 years, and recognized as one of America’s 100 most influential lawyers by the National Law Journal, Rich’s work directly enhanced how institutional investors create value through proactive governance.
Your legacy lives on in every board that governs with greater accountability and every shareholder voice that speaks with greater authority.