Peter Greer
About Peter K. Greer
Peter K. Greer (born March 1975) was elected as an Independent Director of Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. (CRF) on February 7, 2025, and serves on the Audit Committee and the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee. He is President and CEO of HOPE International, Cofounder and Executive Director of Hope Global Investments (since 2021), holds an MPP from Harvard Kennedy School and a B.S. in International Business from Messiah University, and has prior microfinance leadership roles in Cambodia, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda. He oversees two portfolios within the CRF fund complex, and the proxy discloses no outside public-company directorships for the past five years. The board notes his willingness to commit time and values his character and integrity.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urwego Bank (Rwanda) | Managing Director | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Microfinance advisory (Cambodia, Zimbabwe) | Microfinance Adviser | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOPE International | President & CEO | Not disclosed | Global microenterprise organization in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe |
| Hope Global Investments | Cofounder & Executive Director | Since 2021 | Debt financing for MFIs; accredited investor vehicle |
| Messiah University | Entrepreneur-in-Residence | Not disclosed | Academic role |
| Praxis | Venture Partner | Not disclosed | Accelerator program for social entrepreneurs |
| Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. (Fund complex) | Director | Not disclosed | Within CRF fund complex |
Board Governance
- Independence: Greer is a “non-interested” director under the Investment Company Act, serving on both standing committees comprised entirely of independent directors.
- Committee assignments: Member, Audit Committee; Member, Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee. Audit Committee Financial Expert is Frank J. Maresca; Audit Committee chair: Frank J. Maresca; N&CG Committee chair: Andrew A. Strauss.
- Board structure and leadership: 10 members, 3 interested; no Lead Independent Director; Chairman is an Interested Director (Ralph W. Bradshaw).
- Attendance and engagement: In 2024 the Board convened 4 times; for the periods served, each director attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings. Greer’s election occurred in 2025; his specific 2025 attendance is not disclosed in the 2025 proxy.
- Portfolios overseen: 2 within the fund complex.
Fixed Compensation
| Year | Aggregate Compensation from CRF ($) | Total Compensation from Fund Complex ($) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | — | Greer elected Feb. 7, 2025; no 2024 compensation shown |
| 2023 (reference for other directors) | Not applicable to Greer | Not applicable to Greer | Example: independent directors’ aggregates ranged $32,500–$36,250 in CRF |
- The proxy states the Fund has no bonus, profit sharing, pension or retirement plans.
Performance Compensation
- No performance-linked compensation metrics for non-employee directors are described; disclosure focuses on aggregate director compensation by Fund/complex and notes absence of bonus/profit-sharing/pension plans.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Public? | Role | Committees | Interlocks/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | Fund complex | Director | Not disclosed | Same adviser; within fund complex |
| External public boards (past 5 years) | — | None | — | Proxy lists “None” for Greer |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Microfinance leadership and advisory across emerging markets; prior Managing Director of Urwego Bank (Rwanda).
- Executive leadership at HOPE International; investment oversight via Hope Global Investments.
- Academic credentials: Harvard Kennedy School (MPP); Messiah University (B.S., International Business).
- Entrepreneur-in-Residence (Messiah University) and Venture Partner (Praxis); coauthored 15+ books.
Equity Ownership
| As of | Dollar Range of Equity Securities in CRF | Aggregate Dollar Range in Fund Complex | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2024 | $0–$10,000 | $0–$10,000 | Footnote: Greer elected Feb. 7, 2025 |
- Director transactions and related-party exposure: As of Dec. 31, 2024, independent directors (including immediate family) had no securities beneficially or of record in Cornerstone Advisors, LLC or affiliates, and no direct/indirect interests ≥$120,000 or transactions/relationships ≥$120,000 with Cornerstone Advisors or affiliates over the last two years/five years as applicable.
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent committee membership (Audit; N&CG); investment company governance orientation; global finance exposure; no disclosed related-party transactions with the adviser or affiliates; ownership present albeit modest.
- Watch items / RED FLAGS:
- No Lead Independent Director on the Board, which can weaken independent oversight in a complex with multiple interested directors.
- Limited disclosed ownership ($0–$10,000 as of 12/31/2024), offering weaker alignment signal relative to peers with higher ownership ranges.
- Newly appointed (Feb. 7, 2025) — limited CRF-specific track record on attendance and committee engagement thus far.
- Attendance signal: Board/committee-level attendance thresholds met (≥75%) in 2024; Greer’s specific attendance will require future proxy updates given his 2025 election.
Summary implication: Greer adds international microfinance and governance expertise as an independent voice on Audit and N&CG. The absence of a Lead Independent Director and modest disclosed ownership warrant monitoring, but current disclosures show no related-party conflicts with the adviser or affiliates.