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About
Richard Harold Fink (born May 31, 1951) is an American businessman, academic, and strategist known for his influential role as executive vice president and director of Koch Industries and as a key architect of the Koch political network. Holding a B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in economics and political economy from Rutgers University, where he focused on market-based solutions to social issues, Fink has integrated corporate leadership with political advocacy and philanthropy. He played a central role in building the Koch brothers' political and philanthropic infrastructure, guiding efforts to promote libertarian and free-market ideologies through organizations such as Americans for Prosperity and the Institute for Humane Studies. Fink has also served as president of the Charles Koch Foundation, overseeing grants to universities and think tanks supporting limited-government principles, and as chairman of the board of Donors Trust. In 2018, he departed Koch Industries to lead Stand Together, a nonprofit coalition addressing societal challenges through entrepreneurial strategies. Throughout his career, Fink has been a pivotal figure in conservative and libertarian circles, facilitating donor relationships and strategic funding that advance Koch family interests in deregulation, education reform, and criminal justice. While praised for advancing market-oriented reforms, his efforts have also drawn criticism for contributing to partisan political spending, though he remains a discreet operator behind major influence campaigns.