Damien Vira

Damien Vira is the Head of ESOP Consulting at Stout. He has extensive experience with Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), serving as a strategic advisor and an industry practitioner. Damien specializes in plan strategy, sustainability, and lifecycle planning, partnering with organizations to align ESOP outcomes with broader business objectives and long-term capital goals. He works closely with senior management, trustees, and boards of directors to navigate the complexities and tradeoffs of maintaining a durable, long-term ESOP sustainability strategy.

Prior to joining Stout, Damien served as Director of ESOP Consulting for Principal, where he was responsible for business development and consulting across the Western U.S. He also previously served as the Director of Finance for an ESOP-owned company. In that role, he led corporate financial strategy, M&A due diligence, ESOP sustainability, and financial planning and analysis (FP&A).

Damien is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, where he shares insights into ERISA compliance and sustainability.