Remembering Andrew Kassoy
Last week, the world lost a dedicated, generous, kind, and incredibly effective social and philanthropic leader in Andrew Kassoy, 55. Andrew was a friend and a beloved member of the Aspen leadership community as well as the McNulty Prize Community.
He believed deeply in creating a new language and ruleset for how humans do business with each other — one built on care, rather than “carelessness.”
Andrew came to these convictions after a successful but brief stint in private equity that left him frustrated with how the rules of capitalism forced companies and individuals to make exploitative choices. In 2006, Andrew Kassoy joined two friends, Bart Houlahan and Jay Coen-Gilbert, to found B Lab — the organization that would give rise to the worldwide B Corp movement. This movement has caught fire, only accelerating in recent years, giving rise to thousands and thousands of B Corps verified by B Lab (you’ve probably seen their circular logo on many of your favorite products), as well as new legal forms of corporations like “benefit corporations” in the US and “public benefit corporations” in the UK. This is creating a new set of rules for a more pro-social capitalism which have allowed companies to make more humane decisions without being punished by shareholders or regulators.
From consumer goods like Method soaps, apparel companies like Patagonia, retailers like Bath & Body Works, platforms like Kickstarter and Coursera, or eyewear company Warby Parker, B Corporations and benefit corporations are a growing part of our world. Despite being in operation since 2006, their growth has continued to accelerate — in the UK alone, B Corp numbers grew by 30% in 2023 and 40% again in 2024. There are over 9,900 B Corps worldwide, on every continent of the globe, at least 50 of which are publicly traded.
In 2015, the McNulty Foundation awarded the John P. McNulty Prize to Andrew, Bart, Jay and B Lab for creating this vision and movement to build a better way of doing business. We were moved by the promise to bring what people wanted — businesses that made saner, healthier, long-term decisions that take all stakeholders like employees, communities, and the environment into account — in line with a formal system that would still let profit-making business thrive. It is a fundamental revision of how things are done for the better, one that allows new models to flourish.
While these accomplishments explain how we came to know Andrew, they cannot convey the gift that was knowing him.
McNulty Laureates Brett Jenks, Nicola Galombik, Gisela Sanchez and Andrew Kassoy with the late Secretary Madeleine Albright, former Chair of the McNulty Prize Jury.
B Lab Founders Andrew Kassoy, Jay Coen Gilbert and Bart Houlahan with Brynne McNulty Rojas and Anne Welsh McNulty.
Andrew was generous with his time, with his insights, and with sharing his vision for a system that would allow us to fill our human need to care for one another in community.
Not only was he a mentor to many in the B Corp community, helping hundreds of leaders navigate as they brought their business in line with their values, but with the McNulty Prize community as well. He had an easy laugh and a big smile, and he was thrilled to meet and help anyone walking the road towards a more humane world. We will miss him dearly and seek to honor him in our work.
Those who would like to read more testimonials to Andrew’s life can find them here, as well as details about his celebration of life.