Goldwater Institute Announces Growth in Leadership: Victor Riches to Assume New Role of President Darcy Olsen to remain CEO

Phoenix—Today the Goldwater Institute announced that it will expand its leadership team with Victor Riches assuming the new role of president & COO. Long-serving current President & CEO Darcy Olsen will remain in place as the Institute’s CEO. 

“The Goldwater Institute has grown from a small locally-focused organization into a 30-person organization with a coast-to-coast impact, thousands of supporters nationwide, and a national network of pro-bono litigators—and we’re growing our leadership team to keep pace with that growth,” said Darcy Olsen, the Goldwater Institute’s president & CEO. Olsen has led the organization since 2000. The Institute, a six-million-dollar organization with hundreds of legislative reforms and court victories in the past few years, will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2018. 

Victor Riches will join the organization in the new role of president & chief operating officer. Riches is currently the deputy chief of staff for Arizona Governor Doug Ducey; and has served as a chief policy advisor and chief of staff in both the Arizona House and Senate. Riches was also previously the Goldwater Institute’s vice president for external affairs, where he was instrumental in launching the national Right To Try initiative. 

“I’m extremely excited to be returning to Goldwater as President and COO,” Riches said. “Whether through the courts, legislatures, or ballot initiatives, there is no organization better at advancing liberty and achieving results. I’m looking forward to helping the Institute continue its dynamic trajectory.” 

Riches will begin his new role at the Goldwater Institute on October 11, 2016.