Samuel Pierce

Co-Founder of IW Financial

Mr. Pierce co-founded IdealsWork in 2001 and was instrumental in transitioning the company in 2004 from its original design as a responsible shopping website for consumers to IW Financial, a provider of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) products and services to the financial services market. Under Mr. Pierce’s leadership, IW Financial became a top provider of ESG research and analytics. The firm delivered patented, best in breed technology and ESG research on more than 6,000 global companies to more than 150 clients worldwide. In 2017, IW Financial was acquired by Institutional Shareholder Services, ISS, a leading provider of end-to-end corporate governance and responsible investment solutions to the global financial community.

Immediately prior to joining the IdealsWork, Sam served as the Director of Socially Responsible Research for Proxy Monitor’s Socially Responsible Investor Services division. In addition, he was formerly a Senior Research Analyst and Vice President at Citizens Funds, Inc., where he determined, and supervised the review of, the suitability of proposed portfolio companies held in the funds of that socially responsible investment company. While at Citizens, he also managed the planning and implementation of direct shareholder activism initiatives. Sam cut his teeth in the investment management business at Wellington Management Company where he was formerly an Assistant Vice President in the Regulatory.

Sam has more than two decades of experience in gathering and utilizing corporate ESG data and analysis in a number of roles within the investment industry.