LEADERSHIP
Recognizing the growing need for ESG integration in private equity, Lee Coker founded FFA in 2013. Since its inception, the firm has worked with several leading private equity firms, each managing between $8 and $70 billion in assets.
Lee Coker, Principal
Lee launched Fourth Factor Advisors in 2013. Previously, Lee was a Geballe Fellow at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a two-year competitive program designed to train rising business leaders in EDF’s approach to achieving environmental solutions with business benefit. Lee managed EDF's Green Returns initiative with KKR, The Carlyle Group, Oak Hill Capital Partners, and other leaders in the private equity sector to identify opportunities to reduce environmental impacts and build more valuable, competitive portfolio companies.
Lee also led the creation, development, and communications of EDF’s ESG Management Tool for the private equity sector, which enables users to evaluate and enhance performance across 22 best practices areas. Lee and his work have been featured at leading private equity conferences in the U.S. and Europe, as well as many of the sector’s largest trade publications including Private Equity International and Pensions and Investments.
Prior to EDF, Lee worked in Walmart’s sustainability department developing strategies around its Sustainability Index and supplier greenhouse gas initiative. He has led consulting engagements with Walmart, Ford Foundation, HIP Investor, and Investors’ Circle. Prior to entering the business world, he worked for several years in environmental education with organizations such as the Headlands Institute and Visions Service Adventures.
In addition to his work with FFA, Lee serves as the ESG Officer for Oak Hill Capital and the Adjunct Faculty for ESG and Impact Investing at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School MBA program. He recently served a three-year term on the PRI’s Private Equity Advisory Committee, building tools and resources for global private equity firms and limited partners to integrate ESG considerations throughout the investment process.
Lee holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the New College at the University of Alabama and an MBA from the University of North Carolina.