2016 News Releases
CalSTRS Awarded Best Place to Work in Money Management for Second Time
Pensions & Investments recognized CalSTRS investment team the first time in 2013
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System announced today that it was named by Pensions & Investments as a Best Place to Work in Money Management for 2016.
The fifth-annual survey and recognition program is dedicated to identifying and recognizing the best employers in the money management industry and is presented by Pensions & Investments, a global news source for money management.
CalSTRS Chief Operating Investment Officer Receives National Coalition of 100 Black Women’s 2016 Leadership in Business Award
Debra Smith lauded for her achievements in addressing gender inequality in business
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System announced today its Chief Operating Investment Officer Debra Smith, has been recognized as this year’s black woman in business leadership by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women’s Sacramento Chapter.
The 2016 Leadership in Business Award recognizes the accomplishments of black women in the financial investment services industry.
CalSTRS Green Bond Program Enters Its Seventh Year
CalSTRS Fixed Income is a leader in the green bond market, more than tripling its holdings over the past two years
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Seven years after initiating its green bonds program, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System is poised for continued portfolio growth and holdings expansion, as reflected in the 10th annual Green Initiatives Task Force Report released yesterday.
CalSTRS Opens Member Service Center in San Diego
Mission Valley full-service member center is the sixth to open since 2009
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System today announced the opening of its sixth full-service member center. This latest member service center is in San Diego’s Mission Valley Area and is known as the San Diego Rio Vista Tower III.
CalSTRS Chief Investment Officer Honored as an Investor in Education
Christopher J. Ailman receives prestigious recognition from the Neighborhood Youth Association of Los Angeles
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System proudly announced today that its Chief Investment Officer, Christopher J. Ailman, has been recognized as one of this year’s Investors in Education by the Neighborhood Youth Association (NYA) of Los Angeles.
Diverse Director DataSource Joins the Equilar Diversity Network
Database matches candidates and companies to help improve corporate board strength and diversity
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System today announced the Diverse Director DataSource (3D) will now be available through the Equilar Diversity Network.
CalSTRS Seeks Investment Managers With Environmental, Social and Governance Expertise
Up to six additional managers would supplement two existing managers in the ESG space
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System is searching for public equity investment managers with an environmental, social and governance focus. There are up to six new ESG manager spots available for consideration.
CalSTRS Appoints Grant Boyken as Public Affairs Executive Officer
Mr. Boyken will oversee CalSTRS Public Affairs Branch consisting of Communications, External Affairs and Governmental Relations.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System today announced the appointment of Grant Boyken as Public Affairs Executive Officer. The position and the branch are new for CalSTRS, having been established after the retirement of Ed Derman, the former Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Plan Design and Communication Branch.
CalSTRS Fills New Business Processes and Operations Leadership Post
Jeff Zimmer becomes Director of Benefits and Services Business Transformation
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System today announced Jeff Zimmer as its Director of Benefits and Services Business Transformation. Mr. Zimmer will report to Benefits and Services Executive Officer Andrew Roth and Technology Services Executive Officer Ashish Jain.
CalSTRS Announces New Director of Governmental Relations
Joycelyn Martinez-Wade will oversee CalSTRS’ state and federal legislative programs
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. –The California State Teachers’ Retirement System today announced the appointment of Joycelyn Martinez-Wade as Director of Governmental Relations.
CalSTRS Corporate Governance Advances Majority Vote Standard
Uncontested Director Elections Proposals Meet With 100% Success
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System announced today that it waged a highly successful proxy season campaign to advance the majority vote standard in board of director elections at public companies. CalSTRS engaged 106 companies, 94 of which adopted the standard before it went to a vote.
CalSTRS Enhances Corporate Governance Principles with Expanded Board of Directors Accountability Standards
Changes highlight dynamic nature of CalSTRS’ Governance Program through increased corporate board accountability to protect interests of long-term shareholders.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System last Thursday, July 14, approved policy changes to the Corporate Governance Principles which establish the high-level framework, proxy voting activities and shareholder priorities.
CalSTRS Announces Investment Return for Fiscal Year 2015-16
Despite volatility in the equity markets, CalSTRS achieved 1.4 percent net return in total fund performance over past year. Long-term funding plan continues on track.
WEST SACRAMENTO, CALIF. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System remains on track for full funding by the year 2046 after announcing today that it ended the 2015-16 fiscal year on June 30, 2016 with a 1.4 percent net return. The three-year net return is 7.8 percent, and over five years, 7.7 percent net.
CalSTRS Commits $2.5 Billion to Low-Carbon Index
CalSTRS supports environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles by investing in low-carbon strategies for U.S., non-U.S. developed and emerging markets
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System today committed up to $2.5 billion to low-carbon strategies in U.S., non-U.S. developed and emerging equity markets.
The passively managed equity portfolio will be invested in an index designed to have significantly lower exposure to carbon emissions than the broad market and nearly complete reduction in exposure to fossil fuel reserves.
CalSTRS Joins Scores of Institutional Investors in Filing German Securities Litigation Against Volkswagen AG
VW’s purposeful deception in defeating air quality controls on millions of diesel vehicles polluted the environment; and threatens the company’s long-term shareholder value.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System retained the services of the foreign litigation finance group, Bentham Europe, and the international law firm, Quinn Emanuel, which yesterday filed the first of two suits in Germany against Volkswagen AG on behalf of hundreds of institutional funds. The total value of the claims filed yesterday is very significant indeed with shareholders having collectively lost many hundreds of millions of euros, citing the automaker’s admission that it deliberately installed software that misrepresented air quality and emissions information on millions of so-called “clean diesel” vehicles.
CalSTRS Consistent Support of AAAIM Garners the 2016 Founder’s Award
Assoc. of Asian American Investment Managers bestows its highest honor on CalSTRS
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System received the Association of Asian American Investment Managers 2016 Founder’s Award today. The award is a one-time honor being given in celebration of AAAIM’s 10th Anniversary.
CalSTRS Statement on Delaware Court Ruling on Wal-Mart Derivative Suit
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Today, Chancellor Andre G. Bouchard of the Delaware Court of Chancery issued an Order granting Wal-Mart’s motion to dismiss Plaintiffs’ Complaint in In re Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Delaware Derivative Litigation. The California State Teachers’ Retirement System, the New York City Retirement Funds, and the Indiana Electrical Workers Pension Trust Fund IBEW are Co-Lead Plaintiffs in the case.
CalSTRS Fosters a Secure Retirement Future via Sustainability Commitment
2014-15 Global Reporting Initiative sustainability report highlights clean energy investments, stakeholder engagement efforts, and sustainable business practices.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System today announced the release of its second annual Global Reporting Initiative sustainability report: Fostering a Secure Future. The report provides an overview of CalSTRS’ sustainable practices and performance, including overviews of stakeholder, employee and member engagement; a description of the alignment between CalSTRS’ values and those of its business partners; and, examples of workforce activities promoting sustainable economic, environmental and social business practices, which guide its long-term strategy.
CalSTRS Governance, Innovation & Risk Leaders Lauded
Institutional Investor Magazine honors CalSTRS Corporate Governance and Innovation & Risk Directors
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The directors of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System’s Corporate Governance and Innovation & Risk units received awards from Institutional Investor Magazine last night at a Los Angeles awards ceremony.
CalSTRS Simranjit ‘Sunny’ Dhillon Named Top 40 Under 40 All Star
Sunny is the fourth consecutive investment officer to rise and shine for CalSTRS
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System today announced that, for the fourth year in a row, a member of the fund’s investment staff was named to Chief Investment Officer magazine’s influential “Forty Under Forty” list of up-and-coming investment professionals under the age of 40.