CutterResearch Member Meeting

Angela Centeno joined Cutter Associates in 2015, bringing more than 20 years of experience in financial services. Prior to Cutter, Angela worked for The Northern Trust Company in multiple roles managing enterprise market data, investment operations outsourcing, vendor relationships, and custodian relationships. She previously held senior positions in operations management, project management, data management, and solutions implementation.

Angela earned a bachelor of science in accounting and a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of Kansas, as well as an MBA in finance from DePaul University. She is a registered CPA.

Recent research assignments and publications include the following:

• Asset Management Trends: 2022 and Beyond
• Market Data Administration
• An Introduction to Vendor Management
• Best Practices for Developing a Vendor Management Program
• Vendor Management: Trends ─ And the Tools that Can Help
• Data Cataloging Tools
• Rethinking Research Management
• Alternative Investments
• Managing Benchmark and Index Data
  

Jon Chandler brings more than ten years of experience in the financial services industry to his Director's role at Cutter Associates. Prior to joining Cutter, Jon was a senior business analyst for State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), where he was involved in a number of projects for the front and middle office, including UAT design and execution for an order management system (Fidessa IMS), the implementation of a web-based due diligence platform (FundInsight), and an enterprise solution to support blended benchmarks. Prior to his project roles, Jon was a principal in fixed income trade operations at SSGA. He has extensive experience with post-trade operations and applications, such as OASYS/CTM, PORTIA, MBSExpert, and Failstation. Jon earned a bachelor of arts in history from the University of Florida and an MBA from Northeastern University.

Recent research assignments and publications include the following:

• Alternative Investment Systems
• Collateral Management
• Investment Accounting Solutions
• Order Management Systems
• Performance Measurement and Attribution Systems
• Reconciliation Solutions
• Risk Management Systems

Kathy McDermott has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. She joined Cutter Associates in 2011 and has authored a number of Cutter Research reports on a wide range of topics. She spent ten years as a consultant for a variety of asset management firms, with a focus on business analysis for front and middle office projects. Kathy was previously the senior business analyst, equity trading systems, at Wellington Management, specializing in the firm’s proprietary electronic and basket trading applications. Earlier in her career, Kathy worked for Thomson Financial Services (now Thomson Reuters), supporting FirstCall and PORTIA clients in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand, and later went on to manage PORTIA implementations. She also worked at LongView (now Linedata) as an account manager and then product manager of electronic trading. Kathy earned her bachelor of arts in mathematics from Hamilton College.

Recent research assignments and publications include the following:

• Alternative Data and the Expanding Universe of Investment Information
• Behavioral Analysis in Investment Management
• Client Reporting Systems and Practices
• Data Access for Business Users
• Managed Data Services
• Market Data Administration
• Mastering Client, Account, and Product Data
• Order Management Systems
• Outsourced Trading: Has the Time Come?
• Reference Data Management Solutions

Robert “Bob” Ruck joined Cutter Associates in 2017, bringing more than two decades of experience in financial services. Before joining Cutter, Bob was Strategic Client Director with FIS/SunGard where he managed a team of client service professionals and developers and provided oversight for multiple simultaneous large scale consulting projects. Previously, Bob was a Director at Advent Software and responsible for leading a team of 40 that supported the Geneva portfolio accounting system. He managed several high-profile client relationships including several of the largest fund administrators and prime brokers. Bob has also held Client Services roles at Omgeo, where he was responsible for client-related functions across Omgeo’s suite of products including Central Trade Manager, Alert, and Oasys, and at Thomson Financial Services, where he managed client related activities for the firm’s performance measurement product. Bob began his career at State Street Bank and Trust providing mutual funds technical support. Bob holds a B.A. in Economics and Religion from the University of Massachusetts.

Mary Storrs has more than 35 years of experience in the investment management industry. She has been with Cutter Associates for more than 20 years, first as a consultant focusing on front-office projects and then with Cutter Research since its inception. Mary has authored Cutter Research reports on many topics, including trading, portfolio management, transaction cost analysis, investment research management, and market data systems. She led the Research and Benchmarking division for eight years, overseeing all content development and helping members understand their capabilities compared with industry peers and best practices. Since 2019 she has been responsible for spearheading firm-wide management and delivery programs. Mary holds a BS from Boston College and an MBA from Babson College.

Usman Ali joined Swiss Re Asset Management in 2016, where he serves as a Data Scientist responsible for the ideation and delivery of Data Science initiatives across Asset Management. He also plays an integral part in pushing forward the firm’s digital transformation strategy focused on automation, data visualization, and data science. Prior to joining Swiss Re, Usman spent three years at Deloitte, working on cloud-based software implementations, business intelligence, and predictive modeling engagements. He holds a B.S in finance from the University of Toronto and a Master's in Predictive Analytics from Northwestern University.

Liz Blake has over 20 years of diverse experience in the investment management industry. In her current role as Head of Eagle Managed Services, Liz has responsibility for growing and managing the Global Managed Services business line, including operations, technology, client relationship and the strategic direction of the group.

Prior to joining BNY Mellon, Liz was Managing Director, Head of Operations, Alternative Investments at Manulife Asset Management, where she was responsible for the development and management of the global operations for a business providing investment products in alternative asset classes of Real Estate, Commercial Mortgages and Private Placements. Prior, she was Managing Director of Investment Operations for the United States, Manulife Asset Management.

Pablo Cerrilla leads partnerships and industry relationships for YipitData, a provider of research on alternative data that tracks KPIs and fundamental performance for more than 50 companies. He also leads AlternativeData.org, a network of data providers and buy-side investors focused on alternative data trends, news, jobs, and events. Pablo previously worked at Hotelied leading market development, and at Goldman Sachs in investment banking. He graduated from Georgetown University with degrees in Finance and International Business.

Yury joined Harris Associates in 2012, where he is responsible for enterprise architecture, software development, and support, including managed services. From 2008 until 2012, he was the head of IT at Sawdust Investment Management, a multi-strategy investment firm. From 2005 until 2008, Yury led the creation and implementation of federated market data services and trading systems at Bank of America. From 1997 until 2005, he oversaw one of the largest data integration and distribution systems at UBS Investment Bank. Yury earned a B.A. from Columbia University and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Ed is responsible for the creation, development, delivery, management, and support of multiple global Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions for Charles River IMS. Prior to joining Charles River, Ed was Senior Vice President, Technology Services at Harte-Hanks, and Vice President, Technology Services at Wheelhouse Corporation. Ed holds a B.A. in Economics and Computers from Tufts University and an M.B.A. with a concentration in Computer Information Systems from Bentley University.

Haroon Iqbal is the head of data and vendor management at Aflac Global Investments. In this role, he is responsible for managing investment data, third party relationships, and contract negotiations. Prior to joining Aflac in 2013, Haroon spent six years in Japan where he helped launch Chi-X Japan, a proprietary trading system. Before that, he helped to implement trading systems in New York and Tokyo. Haroon has more than 19 years of experience working in the financial industry as a business manager, IT professional, business developer, and project manager, at institutions such as Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank, and Chi-X. He has served as an adjunct professor at Columbia University and he is currently a Board Advisor on the Rutgers Big Data Program. Haroon received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University.

JR Lowry is the head of Innovation & Advisory Solutions for State Street Global Exchange, which is a global provider of data and analytics solutions for institutional investors. He is responsible for GX’s offerings targeted at supporting State Street’s clients in their investment management activities. These offerings include investment research, advisory, indicators, indices, investable strategies, and interactive tools to. Prior to taking this role, he was head of GX in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and GX’s Chief Operating Officer. He is a regular speaker at industry conferences and has been interviewed by numerous media publications, including the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Global Investor, Global Custodian, Institutional Investor, Pensions & Investments, The Trade, and CNBC.

JR has almost 30 years of professional experience across financial services and other industries. Prior to joining State Street in 2010, he held several roles with Fidelity Investments, including leading Fidelity’s corporate transformation effort and serving in several senior leadership roles in Employer Services (FESCo) and Personal and Workplace Investing (PWI). Before joining Fidelity, JR was a partner with the consulting firm McKinsey and Company. He began his career as an officer in the United States Air Force.

JR received a B.Sc. in Engineering from Duke University, an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University, and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Manoj “Manny” Pandya manages all vendor relationships with market data and software providers at MetLife Investments. His responsibilities include managing vendor risk, expenses, and internal clients. Manny also leads strategic initiatives at Aflac to achieve best-in-class status for the Market Data function. Prior to joining MetLife Investments in 2016, Manny spent 15 years at Goldman Sachs, where he held various roles in London and New York, which included managing the Global Vendor Management Function and America's Market Data team.

Vince Pasqualicchio is the Investment Operations Director for American Family Insurance. Vince has responsibilities for Trade Operations (trade settlement, cash and position reconciliation, cash management, custody), Investment Risk Management, Performance and Attribution, Compliance, Information Technology, Data Management, and Reporting. In addition, he has responsibility for the Investment department strategic goals, budget, market data and vendor management.

Prior joining American Family, Vince worked for Cutter Associates as a Senior Consultant. There, he worked with insurance companies and global investment management firms to develop strategies, select system solutions, improve business processes, and led system implementations for Cutter Associates clients.

Prior to Cutter Associates, Vince worked at Metlife as a Vice President of Investment Technology and Operations, supporting Investments Global Operations.

Lee Rosenfeld is an IT professional with more than 30 years of experience dedicated to data processing on workstation, n-tier, Unix, and mainframe-based systems. He has expertise in enterprise architecture, business intelligence, data warehousing, data integration, data architecture, CRM, R&D, systems architecture, and business rules engines. Lee has worked for four Fortune 100 companies and has substantial experience in wholesale sales and distribution and employee benefits in the insurance, banking, automotive, manufacturing, and financial services industries. He is a firm believer that in order for information to have value, it must be accessible and accurate, and its meaning must be universal. Since the end of 2014, Lee has concentrated on the planning and subsequent reimplementation of Eagle Data Management (PACE) with all Nationwide data model customizations removed. He works closely with Eagle Data Governance and Product Development to extend and enhance the application to meet Nationwide’s needs. Lee holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Computer Science from Boston University.

As vice president of Strategic Solutions at Broadridge Financial Solutions, Ramprasad “RP” Sandilya is responsible for growing the company’s Wealth & Capital Markets Technology and Operations Managed Services business. RP collaborates with Broadridge clients and with internal sales, product management, technology, and strategy teams to drive development of next generation products and services to meet emerging market needs. RP has more than 20 years of experience in the brokerage industry, serving in leadership roles in technology, product management, and pre-sales. RP also designed and led development of the Broadridge Workflow and Process Automation solution suite.