Richard Koch (born 1950) is a former management consultant, entrepreneur, and writer of several books on how to apply the Pareto principle (80/20 rule) in all walks of life. Koch has also used his concepts to make a fortune from several private equity investments made personally. Koch’s investments have included Filofax, Plymouth Gin, the Great Little Trading Company[1] and Betfair.[2] Previously he had been a manager at Boston Consulting Group and later a partner at Bain and Company, before leaving to start management consulting firm L.E.K. Consulting with Jim Lawrence and Iain Evans.
In his second book on the 80/20 phenomenon, The Power Laws, he discusses the principle as a basic principle for how the universe works, and sees the process of evolution, as described by Charles Darwin, as a special case of the 80/20 principle at work.
He also emphasizes that the 80/20 principle should not only be seen as method for making decisions or selections, but it should be combined with W. Brian Arthur's concepts of positive feedback and increasing returns.
In his book, Living the 80/20 Way, Koch focuses exclusively on how to succeed personally as well as professionally, to make a good life as well as a living - while doing less. He pioneered the idea that we can achieve more if we relax, enjoy life more, and focus on the few things that matter uniquely to each individual.
Koch graduated from Oxford University and received an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He lives mainly in Portugal, but also owns homes in Cape Town in South Africa, and in the south of Spain near Estepona.