Danny Massey

Head of Strategy and Communications at Expanding ESOPs, where he leads national advocacy and communications work to modernize employee ownership policy and broaden ESOP adoption. He previously worked as a journalist, strategist, and campaigner, including on the Fight for $15 campaign.

Federal Policy Should Make Partial ESOPs Work for Larger Employers

Danny Massey, head of strategy and communications for Expanding ESOPs, argues that employee ownership should be treated as a federal wealth-building policy, not mainly as a succession tool for small private companies. In a keynote at the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, Massey says ESOPs have proved they can raise worker wealth and job quality, but their reach remains too narrow. His central case is that policy must make partial ESOPs viable for larger companies if broad-based ownership is to reach millions of workers rather than hundreds of firms a year.

The Aspen InstituteJun 9, 20267 min read