Equilibrium Capital hires Tides' Drummond Pike

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Pike

Equilibrium Capital Group announced Wednesday that Drummond Pike, founder of The Tides Organizations, an influential and early organization in the world of socially motivated investment, joined the firm as a principal based in the company's San Francisco office.

Tides, formed by Pike in 1976, has partnered and raised money for a range of ventures from Ford Foundation to Appollo Alliance to Annie Leonard's "The Story of Stuff" project.

Pike is known for developing novel funding mechanisms for social and environmental projects. He was also reported to have bailed out the group now known as ACORN after an embezzlement scandal in 2008.

"He was a pioneer in donor-advised funds," said Dave Chen, managing principal at Equilibrium "Those funds were what we consider first-generation instruments. Bringing that experience base and creativity is a tremendous addition to our team."

Portland-based Equilibrium is an investment firm focused on building new financial instruments that are focused on sustainability. The company was formed by Chen in late 2007 and has grown to nine employees working from two offices.

"Back in the '70s and even '80s people really kept their investment money at arms length," Pike said in a video interview posted on Equilibrium's website. He added that he's seen that change in recent years, the trend that Equilibrium is trained on.

"There's a building demand for innovative financial products focused on sustainability," Chen said. "Investors are asking more and more questions."

Equilibrium's portfolio includes Bio-Logical Capital, EnergyRM, Gerding-Edlen Development and Natural Systems Utilities.

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