Rob Kaplan

Rob is the Founder and CEO of Circulate Capital, the leading circular economy investment management firm in high-growth markets. He established Circulate Capital in 2018 to invest in partnership with global brands and institutional investors into solutions that deliver financial returns, advance the circular economy, fight climate change, and prevent the flow of plastic waste into the ocean. Rob has led the firm to launch three funds and invest in 17 companies that have since kept over 270,000 tons of plastic waste in circulation and prevented 400,000 tonnes of GHG emissions, and to be recognized by the World Economic Forum, Reuters, and Impact Assets, among other distinctions. An award-winning sustainability expert, Rob has been a Forbes contributor since 2019 and is a frequent and globally-recognized speaker at high-level conferences. He has been featured in media outlets such as the New York Times, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Barron’s, Nikkei, and CNBC. He currently sits on the board of directors at The Circulate Initiative and Delterra — independent nonprofits driving system change in recycling. Prior to Circulate Capital, Rob co-founded Closed Loop Partners, an innovative platform for impact investing, sustainability, and the circular economy in North America. As Managing Director, Rob oversaw strategy, new business model development, and day-to-day operations. Rob also spent 10 years leading sustainability initiatives in the consumer goods and retail industries. As Director of Sustainability at Walmart, he was responsible for sustainable packaging, customer engagement, the Consumables business, and the goal to eliminate 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas from the supply chain. Previously, at Brown-Forman, he helped lead corporate responsibility for spirit brands, such as Jack Daniels. Rob received his MBA from the Haas School, where he studied marketing,corporate responsibility, and social entrepreneurship. Prior to graduate school, Rob was State Communications Director for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California and a political consultant for M&R Strategic Services in Washington, DC. Rob received his undergraduate degree in political communication from George Washington University, where he learned that perception is reality.