Sydney Cutter Connect 2022

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

Chanelle Crabtree has extensive experience consulting for the asset management industry in Australia for the past 20 years. Chanelle has considerable knowledge and expertise in investment management, outsourcing, and the development of operational models that support the investment management lifecycle. Chanelle leads Cutter Associates’ Investment Operations and Outsourcing practice, and oversees Cutter’s Australia office. She has decades of experience working for investment management firms, custodians, and consulting firms, in roles that included middle-/back-office operational, business analyst, project management, consulting, and senior management. She has a deep understanding of investment management, covering the operational, governance, and system requirements to support all types of clients, products, and asset classes.

A former Director at Deloitte, Chanelle led key engagements, particularly for complex clients with diverse asset classes, covering target operating model design, sourcing, and implementation. Prior to Deloitte, Chanelle was a Lead Consultant at Morse Consulting Pty Limited, where she led various engagements that covered target operating model design, sourcing of custodians/systems, and implementations with investment managers and superannuation clients.

Gina McCafferty has 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. She served at Cutter from 1999 to 2011 as Principal and Managing Director of CutterResearch, and she was instrumental in growing that business. Gina returned to Cutter in 2017, and established and ran the company’s Wealth Management research division. In 2019, she was appointed to Head of Research, responsible for Asset Management and Wealth Management product development and delivery to over 200 member firms around the globe. Gina was previously at Investit Ltd., where she served for six years as head of the company’s research service. Prior to that, she held senior positions at DST International with product responsibility for their global accounting and performance measurement systems, and at SunGard as Vice President of Client Services for their securities trading products.

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

Rein van Rooyen is a results-driven finance and investment industry leader with international experience spearheading teams and achieving outcomes within highly competitive environments. Rein is well versed in leading change agendas, including building capabilities, integrating functions, culture journeys, structure realignment, and operational transformations. Rein comfortably navigates ambiguity, drives forward change, and develops innovative commercial solutions with a sustained commitment for stakeholder centricity and broader organizational impacts. A global thought leader and champion of innovation and transformation, he has extensive experience across superannuation, investment management, banking, risk, and insurance. He has a deep understanding of investment management system use and design.

Prior to Cutter, Rein spent five years at QSuper, where he led the middle and back office for the AUD 100 billion fund, including overseeing investment data, investment performance & analytics, investment risk & compliance, trade support, cash & treasury, collateral management & optimization, valuations & alternatives, investment implementation and deal team, as well as fund operations. He also worked for PwC in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, where he led a variety of client engagements.

Arnie Wachs, Head of Consulting at Cutter Associates, brings extensive business and technical knowledge to the role, with over 30 years of investment management industry experience. Arnie advises clients on their strategic technology direction, data governance practices, trading platforms and practices, portfolio management tools, and operational organization, as well as data management architecture, tools, and practices. He has extensive experience working for investment management firms, financial software vendors, and consulting firms, in roles that included business analyst, developer, system architect, development management, project management, product management, sales, and executive positions. He has a deep understanding of investment management system use and design. He also leads the firm’s Technology and Architecture practice.

Prior to joining Cutter, Arnie worked for ITG, where he led the product management efforts for the development of the next-generation OEMS platform. Prior roles include Head of Equity Systems at BlackRock Solutions, Senior Product Manager at Charles River Development, and Vice President at Fidelity Investments, where he designed and developed the firm’s global trading platforms. Arnie also led efforts at State Street Global Advisors to create an enterprise-wide, cross-asset class security and benchmark master. He holds a Bachelor of Science in physics from Clarkson University.

William is a proven initiative-taking leader with proficiency in managing, defining and implementing innovative technology, operations and client data management solutions in the Asset & Wealth Management industry. Experience working with tier 1 asset, wealth, pension & superannuation fund managers in multiple global jurisdictions, including Australia, Asia, United States and Europe.

He has extensive knowledge of the full suite of front to back-office processes and technologies with experience devising, developing and delivering strategies in Australia as well as globally. He specializes in managing high performing delivery teams with direct involvement in technology, operations, data management, front office teams, and senior stakeholder management.

William spent 17 years at JPMorgan, initially focusing on client reporting solutions for asset managers and pension funds within the Securities Services business in London. After relocating to New York he was a central figure in the design and development of their first strategic mobile enabled, global client reporting and data management solution that was ultimately central to the client implementation effort.

Following his time in Securities Services William then took a key role in the Asset & Wealth Management Technology leadership where he was responsible for the delivery of portfolio management and portfolio implementation tools for the Private Bank Discretionary business, including; pre-trade controls, mandate management portfolio/model management and discretionary product launches. A key part of this role included managing the relationships with the Portfolio Management & Trading teams as well as senior Middle Office stakeholders. In addition to that William was a lead stakeholder in the selection process for appointing an outsourced Custodial service provider for a new product line.

In moving to Sydney William took a role as Fund Services Product Manager where a core function was to lead the response to Custodial RFPs.

Following his career in the industry William moved into consulting where he has led the search, selection & implementation of various platforms and the establishment of associated operational processes across the Australian asset, wealth and superannuation industry. This has included the implementation of Matrix and establishment of the data governance framework and middle office function. Most recently he is leading the program to define & deliver an investment platform for a major superannuation fund.

William holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Edinburgh.

Over 25 years of experience as a strong and dynamic leader with depth of knowledge within Financial Services. Extensive experience and strength in leadership, operational and project execution, transformation, stakeholder management and the development of high performing teams, while having experience in IT operations and strategy, change management, operations management and managing vendors. He is passionate about developing people, enjoys challenging and complex roles while delivering results.

Michael joined Aware Super (formerly First State Super) in August 2020 as Head of Investment Operations and is based out of Sydney. His role currently entails supporting the Aware Investment team in the functions of Investment Data & Reporting, Fund Operations, Direct Asset Control, and Investment Control & Implementation. Prior to this Michael had over 17 years with State Street across 3 countries and 3 separate business lines. Before joining Aware Super, he was Managing Director of Global Process Delivery, India. Other roles included Asia Pacific Chief Operating Officer for State Street Global Markets based out of Hong Kong and Head of Investment Operations for State Street Global Advisors in Bangalore.

Before leaving Sydney in 2013 Michael was formerly Asia-Pacific Head of Investment Operations for SSGA whom he joined in 2002. He was responsible for overseeing the various groups within the Investment Operations teams of Sydney, Hong Kong and Tokyo as well as being a Director of State Street Global Advisors Australia Services Limited who is the Responsible Entity for the SSGA ASX listed SPDR ETF’s and unlisted pooled vehicles. Michael joined the funds management industry in 1998.

Michael received a Bachelor of Commerce in Banking and Finance from the University of Canberra and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia

John joined Funds SA in 1995 and has worked across a range of finance, investment operations and technology related roles since. In 2004, he was appointed as Funds SA’s inaugural Chief Financial Officer, a position he held until being appointed to the Chief Operating Officer role in 2016.

His responsibilities include leading the teams responsible for data and analytics, investment operations, fund accounting, IT, tax, vendor management and procurement. He works closely with Funds SA’s Board and sub-committees, service providers, clients, and stakeholders.

John holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accountancy from the South Australian Institute of Technology (now the University of South Australia), and a Company Directors Course Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is a member of CPA Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.