MFA Ops: Treasury & Finance 2026 - Agenda
March 16, 2026
Conference
New York, NY
Register
Agenda
08:00am - 08:50am
Breakfast, registration and networking
08:50am - 09:00am
Opening remarks
Peter Donovan
,
Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer
,
MFA
Peter Donovan is MFA’s Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer. He is responsible for MFA operations and finance, including accounting, budgeting, human resources and technology. He also leads and directs all efforts related to membership retention, development and growth. Mr. Donovan divides his time between MFA’s Washington D.C. and New York offices.
Mr. Donovan is a respected industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience. He joins MFA from Bank of America Merrill Lynch where he has served since 2004 in a variety of leadership roles in Fixed Income Prime Brokerage, sales and relationship management. He was previously co-head of U.S. prime brokerage sales at Morgan Stanley. Mr. Donovan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Lehigh University and a MBA from Fordham University.
09:00am - 09:30am
Keynote interview I The new alternatives environment: Macro dynamics and financial risk outlook
Speaker
Nathan Sheets
,
Global Chief Economist
,
Citi Research
Nathan Sheets, Ph.D., is Global Chief Economist at Citi Research. In this role, Nathan leads Citi’s surveillance and forecasting of the global economy and directs the analysis of the firm’s economics team. He interacts closely with Citi’s major institutional clients and internal risk takers, and publishes research on cross-cutting themes shaping the global economy and financial markets.
Most recently, Nathan was Chief Economist and a member of the senior investment team at PGIM Fixed Income. He also has served as Under Secretary of the U.S. Treasury for International Affairs, representing the U.S. government on international economic issues. Previously, he held positions with Citigroup, as Global Head of International Economics, and with the Federal Reserve Board, as Director of the Division of International Finance and FOMC Economist. In addition, Nathan was a senior advisor to the U.S. Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund and a visiting fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. He joined Citi in October 2021.
Tom Porcelli
,
Chief Economist
,
Wells Fargo
Moderated by
Ron Alquist
,
Managing Director, Research
,
MFA
Ron Alquist is MFA’s Managing Director, Research. In this role, Ron leads MFA’s research function, which supports public policy that fosters a robust alternative asset management ecosystem around the world. Ron conducts research that addresses policy and regulatory questions relevant to MFA’s membership and coordinates research projects with its external partners.
Before MFA, Ron worked as a Principal Economist and Senior Policy Advisor for the Financial Stability Oversight Council at the US Treasury, where he led several policy projects examining potential risks to the US financial system. Ron also spent time at the Office of Financial Research conducting research on hedge funds, among other topics. Additionally, Ron worked at AQR and Kings Peak Assets Management in the private sector. Ron started his career as an economist in the International Economic Analysis Department at the Bank of Canada.
Ron received a BA in Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, an M.Sc. in Finance and Economics from the London School of Economics, and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. His research has been published in various academic and practitioner journals.
09:30am - 10:05am
Panel I Optimizing the balance sheet: Selecting financing partners in an evolving counterparty landscape
- How is the counterparty landscape evolving, and what do fund managers need to know when navigating this space?
- With banks tightening balance sheet capacity and prioritizing capital efficiency, how are firms rethinking counterparty selection?
- How can managers leverage portfolio insights to reduce balance sheet drag, improve financing terms, and strengthen counterparty alignment?
- Balancing investor demands for flexible financing with banks' changing requirements and regulations.
- How is the PB selection process changing, and what questions are allocators asking about counterparty processes, risk frameworks, and central clearing practices?
Speakers
Bruno Miguel
,
Head of Financing and Resources Management for Prime Services
,
Citigroup
Bruno Miguel is Head of Financing and Resources Management for Prime Services at Citigroup. In his role, Bruno oversees the refinancing and optimization of equity collateral, as well as the management of liquidity and capital constraints within Prime, to drive profitability and sustainable growth.
Prior to joining Citi, Bruno worked at BNP Paribas for 17y in similar FRM roles and Delta One trading functions.
Bruno graduated from ENSAE Paris and holds a MS in Statistics and Financial Mathematics
Joseph Rocco
,
Managing Director, Treasurer
,
Blackstone
Joseph Rocco is a Managing Director and the Treasurer for Blackstone. Mr. Rocco leads Blackstone Global Treasury with responsibilities for balance sheet oversight, cash management, and capital markets activities for the Firm and its funds. Mr. Rocco also leads portfolio management for Blackstone’s perpetual investment vehicles in Infrastructure and Private Equity targeted to individual investors, directing teams responsible for managing portfolio construction, liquidity, and leverage for these platforms.
Prior to joining Blackstone in 2010, Mr. Rocco covered residential mortgage and asset-backed securities ratings at Moody’s.
Mr. Rocco holds an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business and a BS in Finance from Fordham University.
Mark Willis
,
Partner, Treasurer & General Counsel
,
Hudson Bay Capital Management
Mark Willis is a Partner, the Treasurer, and General Counsel at Hudson Bay. As the Treasurer, Mr. Willis is primarily focused on balance sheet optimization, liquidity management and leverage, and managing counterparty relationships. As the General Counsel, he manages a team that negotiates all financing arrangements, counterparty trading agreements and transactions and employment law matters.
Prior to joining Hudson Bay in September 2015, Mr. Willis was at Bank of America Merrill Lynch (“BAML”), where he held several roles from 2002-2015. At BAML, Mr. Willis began as Global Counsel to the financing and trading businesses, where he managed a global team across the equity and fixed income divisions focused on regulatory issues, new product development and negotiating financing and trading agreements. Then in 2009, while still at BAML, Mr. Willis accepted a new role as a Managing Director within the Prime Brokerage and Financing businesses where he served as the Global Head of Client Solutions, Non Market Risk, Client Integration and Product Development. Prior to BAML, Mr. Willis worked as derivatives, trading and financing counsel at Credit Suisse (2000-2002) and UBS (formerly PaineWebber), (1995-2000).
He graduated from St. Johns University School of Law and graduated magna cum laude from St. John’s University where he received a B.S. in Accounting. Mr. Willis earned his C.P.A. license shortly thereafter while working for Ernst & Young in the financial services product area.
Moderated by
Keith Raftery
,
Senior Vice President, Business Development
,
Arcesium
Keith is a senior executive on Arcesium’s business development team specializing in strategic Target Operating Model transformations. Before joining Arcesium, he was a founding member of Enso Financial Analytics, where he led the sales division of the treasury firm. Keith brings extensive industry experience, having previously spent 11 years at Credit Suisse Prime Brokerage, where he held key positions on both the Fixed Income and Strategic Consulting teams. His combined expertise in financial services, prime brokerage, and technology-enabled solutions positions him as a trusted advisor for complex operational transformations.
10:05am - 10:40am
Panel I In pursuit of AI efficiency: What’s next for the finance tech stack
- How are funds integrating AI into daily workflows and finance and treasury operations?
- What does today’s AI vendor ecosystem offer? How should firms approach buy-versus-build decisions when it comes to AI adoption?
- What AI capabilities should fund managers realistically expect from banking partners and service providers?
- How are firms balancing the pressure to “use AI” with the challenge of demonstrating clear ROI?
- AI readiness: Is your fund’s infrastructure, data strategy, controls, and team prepared for broad AI adoption?
Speakers
Ed Han
,
Chief Financial Officer
,
Hudson Bay Capital Management
Ed Han is the Chief Financial Officer of Hudson Bay Capital, having most recently served as the firm’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer since joining in 2024. Prior to Hudson Bay, Mr. Han was a Managing Director in the Financial Institutions Group at Bank of America, where he led strategic advisory for clients in the alternative asset management, specialty finance, and financial technology sectors. He joined Bank of America in 2013.
Before that, Mr. Han was part of the Financial Institutions Group at Deutsche Bank Securities, focusing on specialty finance, where he began in 2008. Earlier in his career, Mr. Han served as a United States Marine Corps Infantry Officer, attaining the rank of Captain and earning combat distinction during the Global War on Terror and Operation Iraqi Freedom (1994–2006).
Mr. Han received his MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.S. in Quantitative Economics from the United States Naval Academy. He is a Class of 2022 Presidential Leadership Scholar, a member of the Economic Club of New York, serves on the Board of Directors of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, and is an Advisor to Brave Capital.
Jonathan Hinkley
,
EVP & Head of Global Services
,
Linedata
Jonathan Hinkley leads all aspects of Linedata’s Global Services business, including operations and technology solutions for Front, Middle, and Back Office, Managed Services Provider (MSP), and Cybersecurity. A financial services leader with over 20 years of experience in Investment Management Middle and Back Office Operations and Public Accounting, Jonathan brings a deep understanding of the operational and technological needs of asset managers across strategies.
He specializes in building and leading cross-functional, multi-national teams of professionals and is a trusted advisor to CFOs and COOs. His extensive background includes creating scalable solutions servicing funds across the capital structure, with a particular focus on complex credit strategies.
Prior to his tenure at Linedata, Jonathan served as Vice President of Fund Finance at Landmark Partners, and in similar hands-on operational roles at both SS&C GlobeOp and Harmonic Fund Services in the Cayman Islands.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Bentley University and has held a Certified Public Accountant license (MA) since 2001.
Sean Lensborn
,
Chief Technology Officer
,
ZAIS Group
Sean Lensborn is the Chief Technology Officer of the ZAIS Group, bringing 20 years of technology experience in a wide variety of roles and industries. Before joining ZAIS in October of 2019, Mr. Lensborn was the Chief Information Officer for DBRS, a Global Credit Ratings Agency. He spent 10 years in this role at DBRS where he modernized the Technology, Cyber Security, Quantitative Modeling, and Data Management organizations.
Prior to DBRS, Mr. Lensborn spent 10 years in consulting, engineering leadership and software engineering roles with clients including major financial institutions and large firms in the air travel, technology and telecommunications sectors. Mr. Lensborn studied Computer Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Brandy Morris
,
Chief Financial Officer
,
AB CarVal
Brandy Morris serves as Principal and Chief Financial Officer at AB CarVal, where she oversees the firm’s management company, financial control and investor accounting, and data initiatives and solutions functions. A vital member of the AB CarVal team, Brandy contributes significantly to the compensation team and is a key member of the Executive Committee and the Human Capital and Compensation Committee. With a tenure at AB CarVal beginning in 2009, Brandy previously led the firm’s global technology function, building out best-in-class capabilities and a strong financial operations (FinOps) mindset. Her career prior to AB CarVal includes roles at Deephaven Capital Management, AEW Capital Management, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Brandy holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Accounting from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Moderated by
Courtney B. Posner
,
Partner, Investment Management Group
,
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Courtney Posner is a leader in the investment management community, and advises investment managers in all of the legal aspects of their businesses andoperations. She has extensive experience in fund formation and structuring, Investment Advisers Act regulatory and compliance matters, legal and operationalbest practices, and a wide variety of other matters for leading investment managers and other market participants throughout the investment managementcommunity.
Well-known in the industry as a trusted advisor to multi-billion-dollar fund managers, Courtney builds close partnerships with fund founders, executive officers,internal general counsels, and their legal teams to enable our clients to successfully achieve their objectives. She has a deep understanding of how funds andinvestment managers operate, and provides exceptional client service with her thoughtful, thorough, and seasoned approach.
Prior to joining Lowenstein, Courtney was the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Echo Street Capital Management LLC and, prior to that, sheserved as Senior Vice President/Associate General Counsel at PineBridge Investments.
Courtney’s breadth and depth of experience makes her a sought-after thought leader in the investment management community.
10:40am - 11:10am
Midterm elections in focus: Potential outcomes and why they matter
Speakers
Dwight A. Fettig
,
Partner
,
Porterfield, Fettig & Sears LLC
Dwight A. Fettig is a Partner of Porterfield, Fettig & Sears, LLC (PFS). Fettig returned to the firm in January of 2013 after leaving in 2010 to serve as Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs under the leadership of Chairman Tim Johnson.
As staff director, Fettig organized staff, set and implemented the agenda for the Committee. During Fettig’s tenure, the Committee undertook comprehensive oversight of the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act by the financial regulators. The Committee passed bipartisan bills such as reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the transit title of the Surface Transportation bill, Iran and Syria sanctions, as well as legislation to protect information provided to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and reduce the duplication of ATM fee disclosures. Fettig also directed more than 30 nominees through the Banking Committee confirmation process in 2011 and 2012, including nominees at the Federal Reserve Board, Department of Treasury, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Council of Economic Advisers (CEA).
Fettig is a frequent Washington panelist, having participated in the American Banker’s annual legislative and regulatory conference, a Bipartisan Policy Center panel on mortgage finance issues, as well as a guest appearance on the C-SPAN program Washington Journal.
Prior to joining the firm in July of 2009, Fettig enjoyed several jobs off the Hill, including, Senior Policy and Legislative Advisor at Arnold & Porter LLP and Senior Director of Government and Industry Relations at Freddie Mac. Fettig started his career in Washington with then-Congressman Tim Johnson, gaining policy experience in financial services, housing, appropriations, taxes, healthcare and energy.
A native of Bismarck, North Dakota, Fettig graduated with a B.A. degree in Political Science from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Fettig currently serves on the Board of the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty.
Chris Maneval
,
Vice President
,
Porterfield, Fettig & Sears LLC
Chris Maneval is a Vice President at Porterfield, Fettig & Sears LLC (PFS). Chris has over a decade of experience navigating the legislative, leadership, and political landscape on Capitol Hill and across the federal government.
Prior to joining the firm, Chris was Deputy Chief of Staff to House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, the third ranking member of House Republican Leadership. He served as a senior advisor to the Whip in one of the smallest majorities in history. During his time with the Whip, Chris helped build a team of talented professionals and built relationships with Members from every corner of the Republican Conference to secure passage of historic legislation like the bipartisan Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, the Limit, Save, Grow Act and several appropriations bills.
Chris also served as Chief of Staff during Emmer’s two terms as Chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the campaign arm for House Republicans. In this capacity Chris gained experience with congressional campaign strategy and built extensive relationships with the corporate PAC community. He also fostered a policy agenda that made Emmer a leader in the blockchain and digital asset community and in the mental health space. Prior to becoming Chief of Staff, Chris served as Legislative Director for Representative Emmer, managing the Congressman’s Financial Services Committee and tax portfolios. In this position, he secured key legislative provisions in S. 2155, the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, and an array of policy areas including transportation, appropriations, energy, health care, and foreign affairs.
Chris began his time on Capitol Hill as an intern in the office of Congressman J. Randy Forbes – the Chair of the Seapower Subcommittee on the House Armed Services Committee – working his way up to Senior Legislative Assistant.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from West Virginia University. He resides with his wife and two children in Arlington, Virginia.
Moderated by
John D. Van Etten
,
Managing Director, Head of U.S. Government Affairs
,
MFA
John Van Etten is Managing Director, Head of U.S. Government Affairs at MFA. He leads the U.S. Government Affairs team in representing the alternative asset management industry on political and regulatory issues that impact capital formation, investment strategies, and beneficiaries. He engages directly with Congress, the Administration, and other key policymakers and stakeholders.
Before joining MFA, John spent more than seven years at JPMorgan Chase & Co., advising and representing the firm before Congress, multiple U.S. Administrations, and global regulatory bodies. He previously held government affairs roles at HSBC and The Clearing House (now the Bank Policy Institute), practiced financial services law at a major law firm, and served as a financial policy advisor in the U.S. House of Representatives.
John earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego, and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.
11:10am - 11:30am
Networking break
11:30am - 12:10pm
Breakout sessions:
Select one
PRIVATE CREDIT
Evergreen and interval fund valuation models in private markets
- How are valuation practices evolving as firms adopt evergreen and interval structures?
- What frameworks ensure consistent marks across private investments?
- How will valuation practices need to evolve as retail investor participation continues to grow?
- How do fund administrators, accounting firms, independent valuation providers, and rating agencies contribute to governance, documentation discipline, and operational controls?
- How should underwriting standards and review processes evolve in light of recent bankruptcies and broader industry concerns?
Evergreen and interval fund valuation models in private markets
Speakers
Colleen Mattern
,
Managing Director & Head of Valuations
,
Oak Hill Advisors
Colleen Mattern, Managing Director & Head of Valuations, has primary responsibility for valuation of the OHA investment portfolio across North America and Europe. She also serves on the Valuation Committee. Prior to OHA, Ms. Mattern was a Director in the Financial Markets practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers where she spent the majority of her career providing fixed income and securitization valuation services, leading Collateralized Loan Obligation and Direct Lending Fund credit diligence and transaction closings, and delivering credit specific advisory services. She also served as Chief of Staff to the Chief Auditor during her time at PwC’s National Office. Ms. Mattern earned an M.B.A. from New York University Stern School of Business with specializations in Finance and Quantitative Finance, a B.S. in both Finance and Accounting from Providence College and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Please keep us posted if there will be any social promotion allowed for the event and we can schedule something from our OHA account.
Admas Misghina
,
Partner, Operational Due Diligence
,
Albourne Partners
Admas Misghina is a Partner in Operational Due Diligence at Albourne Partners (Canada) Limited, based in Toronto, where she also leads one of the firm’s North American ODD teams. She has over 11 years of operational due diligence experience, currently covering both hedge fund and private market strategies, supported by approximately nine years of prior audit experience.
Before joining Albourne, Admas worked as an Audit Project Leader at the Office of the Auditor General of the Cayman Islands, performing financial statement and performance audits across a wide range of government entities. She began her career in EY’s Assurance & Advisory practice in both Winnipeg and the Cayman Islands.
Admas holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) with Distinction from the University of Manitoba and a Master of Professional Accounting from the University of Saskatchewan. She is a Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Accountant (Canada).
Dava Ritchea
,
Chief Financial Officer
,
AMG
Dava Ritchea is the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. She joined AMG in 2024 from Sculptor Capital Management Inc., where she served as Chief Financial Officer and as a member of the firm’s Partner Management Committee. Prior to joining Sculptor in 2021, Ms. Ritchea served as Chief Financial Officer at Assured Investment Management LLC (formerly known as BlueMountain Capital Management, LLC) from 2017 to 2021. Earlier in her career, Ms. Ritchea held investment banking and strategy roles at each of Credit Suisse Group AG, Barclays Capital Inc., and Lehman Brothers Inc. Ms. Ritchea received a B.S. in Business Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.
Moderated by
Cliff Cone
,
Partner
,
Sidley Austin LLP
Cliff Cone focuses his practice on the regulation, structuring, and ongoing operation of registered investment funds, business development companies, private funds, commodity and crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and investment management businesses. He advises asset managers, fund boards, and financial institutions on complex issues arising under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Cliff has extensive experience counseling sponsors and directors of closed-end funds, interval funds, exchange-traded funds, business development companies, and registered fund-of-funds structures. His practice also includes advising sponsors of hedge funds, private equity funds, commodity pools, and crypto-focused investment vehicles, as well as providing guidance on adviser registration, disclosure, governance, and regulatory compliance matters, including interactions with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and national securities exchanges.
Cliff regularly represents issuers and underwriters in connection with fund initial public offerings and exchange listings, and he has advised on some of the largest registered fund initial public offerings (IPOs) and crypto ETFs in the market. Cliff has also been at the forefront of advising asset managers on innovative product development, including digital asset and commodity-based investment products.
He is an active participant in industry and professional organizations and serves on the Committee on Investment Regulation of the New York City Bar.
Cliff is recognized for his work in Registered Funds by Chambers USA (Nationwide, 2022–2025) and Chambers Global (USA, 2023–2025). Legal 500 United States recommended Cliff for Investment Fund Formation and Management – Private Equity Funds (Including Venture Capital) and Finance – Fintech, Legal (2024).
EXPENSE MANAGEMENT
Financial planning and expense management in leaner, efficiency-driven environments
- Benchmarking expense ratios and evaluating ROI—how do you compare with peers
- What tools (AI-enabled or other) are improving expense review, forecasting, and cost transparency?
- How do you communicate expense structures to LPs while balancing transparency, competitiveness, and today’s fundraising pressures?
- How are full or partial fee pass-through models influencing expense structures and the broader industry?
Financial planning and expense management in leaner, efficiency-driven environments
Speakers
Anthony Gonzalez
,
Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer
,
Davidson Kempner
Anthony Gonzalez is a Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer at Davidson Kempner. He joined the Firm in 2009 and is based in the New York office.
Before joining Davidson Kempner, Mr. Gonzalez was a Senior Associate in the Alternative Investments Practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr. Gonzalez received a B.S. from Fordham University. He is a Certified Public Accountant.
Lavonne Harris
,
Co-Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Funds
,
Magnetar
Lavonne Harris serves as Co-Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Magnetar’s funds, overseeing all aspects of fund finance operations as well as Management Company Finance and COO Support & Analytics. She plays a key role in firmwide financial, operational, and technology initiatives, and works closely with the firm’s IT and HR leadership to drive strategic and operational alignment across functions. Lavonne brings deep institutional knowledge to her leadership of Magnetar’s back-office functions.
Prior to Magnetar, Lavonne spent 23 years at Koch Industries, Inc. During her tenure at Koch, she was Controller for the crude oil, feed and structured products group of Koch Supply & Trading, Controller for Koch Investment Group and worked for the minerals, oil and audit groups.
Lavonne earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Kansas State University and completed the certified public accountant exam.
Darryl LaMonico
,
Head of BP&A and Management Controller
,
Bridgewater Associates
Darryl LaMonico joined Bridgewater in 2005 and is currently the Head of Business Planning and Analysis and Management Controller. As Head of Business Planning and Analysis and Management Controller, Darryl is responsible for partnering with leadership on strategic investments, sourcing and contract negotiations, reporting on the company’s financial picture, managing revenue and fees analyses, and owning budgeting, planning, and capital deployment. Over the past 19+ years, Darryl has worked within the Finance department in various capacities starting as Team Lead of Revenue, then to Senior Manager and subsequent Director of Departmental Finance, and then the Head of Business Planning and Analysis.
Prior to joining Bridgewater, held positions at State Street Bank and Bank of America. Darryl holds a BA in Finance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Anthony Megaro
,
Chief Financial Officer
,
Cinctive Capital Management
Anthony joined Cinctive in 2019. Prior to Cinctive, Anthony was a Manager of Financial Reporting at Moore Capital, where he oversaw the entire NAV production and financial reporting processes. Previously, he was the Controller/Treasurer for Moore Strategic Value Partners, LLC, a distressed debt closed-end fund from 2002-2005. Prior to that Anthony was a consultant for the Blackstone Group, specifically working in the area of tax and accounting for the real estate funds from 2000-2002. Anthony began his career in public accounting in the real estate tax groups at Deloitte and Arthur Andersen. Anthony holds a B.S. in Accounting from Seton Hall University, an MBA in Finance from Fordham University, and is a CPA registered in the state of New York.
Moderated by
Steven Petersen
,
Co-Founder
,
Stavtar Solutions
Steven Petersen is Co-Founder of Stavtar Solutions, a rapidly growing financial technology company that creates software which improves financial and operational workflows of the most sophisticated asset managers in the world. Managers with over $3.1T of AUM use its flagship product StavPay to manage their business spend and expense allocation process. Prior to focusing full time on Stavtar Solutions, Steve was Hudson Bay Capital’s Chief Financial Officer from 2014 to 2022 where he was responsible for managing the Hudson Bay’s accounting, finance, operations, and financial and tax reporting functions. He implemented and managed the operational infrastructure supporting growth from $2.2B to $16.5B of assets under management during his tenure. Prior to joining Hudson Bay, he spent nine years at TPG-Axon as its Chief Financial Officer from 2011 to 2014 and as its Global Controller from 2005 until 2011. While at TPGA, a global hedge fund with peak assets of $16 billion, he built out and managed the operational risk infrastructure, global control, fund accounting, corporate accounting, budgeting and payroll, global tax and regulatory reporting processes. He was also a member of the TPG-Axon Senior Management, Valuation, Treasury and Credit Risk Committees. Prior to joining TPG-Axon, Mr. Petersen served as a Vice President and Global Operational Risk Manager for the Proprietary Positioning Business (PPB) at JP Morgan Chase from 2001 to 2005 and held various other Middle Office positions for PPB from 1997 to 2001. He started his career at Arthur Andersen LLP in 1994. He was also a Member of the CFO Steering Committee of the Managed Funds Association. Mr. Petersen graduated from Hofstra University with a BBA in Accounting. He is married, with four children and lives in Manhasset NY.
12:15pm - 12:55pm
Breakout sessions:
Select one
PRIVATE CREDIT
Liquidity management and operational readiness for a broadening investor base
- As private credit expands into interval and evergreen vehicles, what liquidity management and capital-flow controls must be implemented to protect investors?
- How do you prevent or plan for redemption-driven stress? What protection is mandated by regulators?
- What are the operational pain points—frequent NAV, forecasting, investor counts—that firms consistently underestimate?
- Can existing fund administrators support the operational load, or do managers need new infrastructure? If so, how does it look like?
- Are current Order Management Systems (OMS) and Portfolio Management Systems (PMS) sufficient for today’s more complex fund structures?
Liquidity management and operational readiness for a broadening investor base
Speakers
Ellen Conti
,
Executive Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer
,
Sculptor Capital Management
Ellen Conti is an Executive Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer for Sculptor Capital. She is also a member of the Firm’s Partner Management Committee. In this role, Ms. Conti oversees all aspects of Accounting, Operations, Corporate Strategy, Tax, and Treasury at Sculptor Capital.
Prior to joining the Firm in 2021, Ms. Conti was Head of Corporate Strategy and Finance for Assured Investment Management, formerly BlueMountain Capital Management. She also held roles as Deputy Chief Financial Officer and within strategy and business development. Prior to Assured Investment Management, she worked at Credit Suisse within global strategy and business development for the Asset Management business.
Ms. Conti holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting with a minor in Politics from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University.
Amit Joshi
,
Chief Financial Officer, Specialty Finance & Private Credit
,
Bain Capital
Amit Joshi joined Bain Capital in 2023. He is a Senior Vice President on the Finance team for the Credit business and serves as Chief Financial Officer for Bain Capital Private Credit and Bain Capital Specialty Finance.
Prior to joining Bain Capital, Amit worked at Apollo Global Management as Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer for Apollo Debt Solutions BDC. He was also a Chief Accounting Officer, Assistant Treasurer, and Vice President of Midcap Financial Investment Corporation (NASDAQ: MFIC), a registered business development company, and of some of the private funds including CLOs, private drawdown funds, and operating companies. Previously, Amit served as Senior Manager at Ernst & Young. Prior to that, he was an Audit Senior at a mid-size accounting firm in New York and in various international offices in roles with increasing responsibility.
Amit graduated with first-class honors from Calcutta University in India. He is a Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Financial Analyst, and Chartered Accountant.
Scot Pasquale
,
Chief Financial Officer
,
Marathon Asset Management
Scot Pasquale is the Chief Financial Officer at Marathon Asset Management. Based in New York, he joined the firm in 2008. Scot received a B.S. in Accounting from Lehigh University. He previously worked at Lehman Brothers and EY.
Moderated by
Joseph Latini
,
Chief Commercial Officer
,
MUFG Investor Services
Joseph (Joe) Latini is the Chief Commercial Officer for MUFG Investor Services, responsible for business development, global sales, marketing and business consulting.
Joe became Chief Commercial Officer in 2023, after serving as Global Head of Business Development, Global Head of Client Service Management and Client Integration and Executive Director, Relationship Management. He joined MUFG Investor Services in 2017 from ENSO Financial Analytics where he served as Director of US Sales. Prior to that, Joe held senior relationship management roles in Morgan Stanley’s Prime Brokerage business.
He has volunteered with organizations including Camp Fire NJ, Interfaith Caregivers, It’s From the Sole, the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, Everybody Wins!, College Summit, and the RBI Foundation.
Joe earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Drew University.
INVESTOR RELATIONS AND ODD
Investor management and ODD: The finance role in maintaining accurate, controlled communications
- How is the finance function’s role in ODD evolving as investor expectations and requirements change?
- With the proliferation of AI, what questions are investors now asking regarding its use, data governance, and security?
- How should firms balance investor-facing transparency with the need for finance-led data accuracy and control, especially as IR seeks broader system access?
- Core controls—cash flow, AML, and KYC: What do investors now expect, and how are firms demonstrating rigor?
- What CRM and investor management systems work best for managing capital activity, communications, reporting, and ODD workflows?
Investor management and ODD: The finance role in maintaining accurate, controlled communications
Speakers
Bill Allison
,
Head of External Alpha Operational Risk
,
Man Group
William (Bill) Allison is the Head of External Alpha Operational Risk within Solutions and is based in New York. As the head of the Operational Risk team, he is responsible for performing due diligence reviews covering the business, legal, financial and operational risks of investments in alternatives. Bill is a voting member of the External Alpha Investment Committee and co-Chair of the External Alpha Risk Committee.
Prior to joining Man in 2014, Bill worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. in the Controllers division supporting Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM). Before that, Bill was a Vice President in the Finance division at Merrill Lynch & Co.
Bill holds a BS in Accounting from Fairfield University. He is a CFA charterholder.
Peter Bergren
,
Partner and Chief Financial Officer
,
Empyrean Capital Partners
Hilela Pagano
,
Managing Director, Fund Accounting and Valuation
,
Monarch Alternative Capital LP
Hilela Pagano is a Managing Director on Monarch’s Finance team overseeing Fund Accounting and Valuation. She joined Monarch in 2017 from MatlinPatterson Global Advisors, where she was a Controller. Prior thereto, she was at Goldman Sachs as an Associate. She serves on the board of certain entities related to investments in the U.S., Luxembourg, Ireland, and the Netherlands. She graduated from Barnard College, Columbia University with a B.A. in Economics and minor in Mathematics.
Anthony Martinez
,
Partner, Global Head of Mercer Sentinel
,
Mercer
Moderated by
Eileen Overbaugh
,
Partner
,
McDermott Will & Schulte
Advises hedge funds, venture capital funds and other pooled investment vehicles on all matters related to private funds, including formation, structuring, investor negotiation and ongoing operations.
Eileen negotiates seed and strategic investments, funds-of-one, managed account arrangements and other alternative investment relationships, and also advises asset managers and institutional investors with respect to co-investments and single-asset funds.
She focuses particularly on the business arrangements between the principals of asset management firms, including governance of the investment manager and general partner entities. In addition, Eileen structures employee compensation and employee separation arrangements for both asset managers and their most senior employees and partners.
Eileen is recognized as a leading investment funds lawyer for her work in the hedge funds space by Chambers USA, with clients stating that “she is highly strategic and can turn around issues quickly.”
12:55pm – 01:50pm
Lunch & networking
01:50pm - 02:35pm
Breakout sessions
Select one
PRIME BROKER SUPPORT
Ask a broker: Inside today’s prime brokerage market
Ask a broker: Inside today’s prime brokerage market
Prime brokerage relationships are continuing to evolve in response to changing market dynamics. This session brings together a curated group of prime brokers to share their perspective on how the market is evolving, what managers should expect going forward, and how to build partnerships that deliver mutual value. The conversation will be followed by an extended Q&A for candid dialogue.
Speakers
Mike McCuin
,
Executive Director, Prime Financing Distribution
,
UBS
Michael is an Executive Director in Prime Financing Distribution at UBS. He is responsible for UBS’s Financing Franchise in Boston and also covers several well-established clients in the Tri-State area. Prior to joining UBS in 2020, Michael spent 10 years in Prime Brokerage & Outsourced Trading Sales at Jefferies and BTIG in New York, where he developed an expertise in partnering with Emerging Managers. Michael got his start in Prime Brokerage in Boston as a Relationship Manager at JP Morgan Securities (formerly Bear Stearns) after several years as a Sales Trader in Cash Equities at CIBC World Markets. Michael graduated from Furman University with a degree in Business Administration.
Matt Kiraly
,
Global Head of Equity Finance and Prime Sales
,
HSBC Bank
Greg Rossi
,
Managing Director, Americas Financial Resource Group
,
Bank of America
Greg oversees the Americas Financial Resource Group (FRG) within Bank of America which focuses on the optimization of Capital, Liquidity, and Revenue for the Prime Brokerage and Equities division.
Greg joined BofA in 2021, leading its client optimization strategy, building its quantitative financing toolsets, and client metrics platform. Prior to joining the firm, Greg worked at Citibank in Global Prime Finance in a similar capacity on its FRM team, as well as US Equities Funding. Prior to Citibank Greg held similar roles at Barclays Bank, Lehman Brothers, and started his career as a Biomedical Engineer.
Greg holds a Bachelor’s degree from Stonybrook University with a major in Mechanical Engineering where he also played Lacrosse.
Moderated by
Tejash Patel
,
Global Head of Treasury
,
Balyasny Asset Management
Tejash Patel is Global Head of Treasury at Balyasny Asset Management (BAM) and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He has lived and worked in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. during a career spanning three decades.
He joined BAM from Morgan Stanley, where he was managing director and global head of Delta-One Structured Products and Securities Lending within the Institutional Equity Division. Tejash held a variety of other senior leadership roles during his 18-year tenure at the bank, including global head of Securities Lending, global head of Fixed Income Client Financing, and global head of Bank Resource Management.
He began his career at Goldman Sachs, spending six years in securities lending roles in New York and Tokyo.
Tejash previously served as treasurer of CUP, a non-profit organization, where he was a member of the Finance and Executive Committees.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from New York University’s Stern School of Business, and lives in Westchester County, New York, with his wife and their three daughters.
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS
Interactive roundtable discussions
Interactive roundtable discussions
Participate in a candid roundtable discussion with your peers, focusing on one of the featured topics. Spaces are limited; advance registration is required.
- Operating models: Outsourcing and offshoring key functions while managing headcount and capacity - Led by: Eric Sacks, Chief Financial Officer & Co-Chief Operating Officer, Coatue & Anthony Megaro, Chief Financial Officer, Cinctive Capital Management
- Vendor integration and benchmarking: New technology, data management, and AI in treasury and finance – Led by: John Kushner, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Relationship Management, Northern Trust Hedge Fund Services
- Compensation trends and headcount planning: Scaling AUM with the right talent – Led by: Darryl LaMonico, Head of BP&A and Management Controller, Bridgewater Associates
- Evolving private credit structures: Liquidity management, valuations & product structuring - Led by: Dava Ritchea, Chief Financial Officer, AMG
- Expense management and evaluating ROI: How do you compare with peers? - Led by: Anthony Gonzalez , Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer, Davidson Kempner Capital Management
02:35pm - 02:55pm
Networking break and transition to general session
02:55pm - 03:20pm
Regulatory update: Basel endgame, treasury clearing, and evolving regulations for banks and alternatives
Speakers
Joseph Hwang
,
Managing Director, Head of Regulatory Policy
,
Goldman Sachs
Joseph is responsible for the regulatory policy, interpretation, and advocacy related to the Basel Committee’s and the Federal Reserve’s regulatory capital frameworks applicable to the Bank Holding Company and to Goldman Sachs Bank USA. He serves as co-chair of the Finance, Risk and Services Asian Network.
Previously, Joseph helped create the Regulatory Policy team in 2010. Prior to that, he built the GS Bank USA Regulatory Reporting team in 2008. Joseph joined Goldman Sachs as an analyst in 2005 and was named managing director in 2017. Joseph earned a BBA in Accounting from Baruch College in 2005 and an MBA in Finance from New York University Stern School of Business in 2011.
David L. Portilla
,
Partner, Financial Institutions
,
Davis Polk
David is co-head of our Financial Institutions practice. He advises bank and nonbank
financial institutions on a range of M&A, regulation, policy, enforcement and
governance matters – including the full gamut of the prudential regulatory framework.
He has a notable reputation in enhanced prudential standards for large banks, the
Volcker Rule, the prudential regulation of nonbank firms, and innovation-related and
cryptoasset issues. He is well known for thought leadership and spearheading
advocacy efforts for clients.
David served as a senior policy advisor to the Treasury Department’s Financial Stability
Oversight Council at its launch following the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act. He helped develop
the FSOC’s initial substantive agenda, procedures and governance, and worked on
Dodd-Frank implementation and other financial regulatory issues.
His work has been recognized by Chambers, Legal 500, IFLR1000 and Law360. He
chairs the ABA Banking Law Committee’s International Banking subcommittee.
Moderated by
Matthew Daigler
,
Vice President, Senior Counsel, Regulatory Affairs
,
MFA
Matthew Daigler is MFA’s Vice President, Senior Counsel, Regulatory Affairs.
In this role, Matthew analyzes the impact of legislative and regulatory developments on MFA members, works with MFA members in developing Association policy, drafts comments to regulators, oversees outside counsel/consultants, and engages directly with policymakers and regulators.
Prior to joining the MFA, Mr. Daigler was Vice President and Senior Counsel in the Office of Innovation Policy and Regulation at the American Bankers Association (ABA), where he worked with banks and policymakers to ensure that the legal and regulatory landscape supports financial innovation. Prior to working at the ABA, Mr. Daigler served as Senior Counsel in the Chairman’s Office at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), where he advised on domestic and international policy and legal matters relating to cryptocurrencies and the OTC derivatives and futures markets. He also previously worked as a Senior Associate at Allen & Overy LLP in Washington, D.C., where he advised financial institutions on a wide range of regulatory matters. He also worked at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for nearly 10 years, most recently serving as Senior Special Counsel in the Office of Derivatives Policy, where he worked on the implementation of Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act and derivatives regulation more generally.
Matthew has degrees from the University of Chicago (J.D.); Boston College (Ph.D.); and the University of Toronto (B.A.).
03:20pm - 03:45pm
Fireside chat I Tokenized money markets and the future of treasury efficiency
Speakers
Jordan Dudeck
,
Head of the Product Practice and Product Strategy
,
BNY
Jordan Dudeck serves as the leader of the Product Practice and Product Strategy at BNY, where she is responsible for driving excellence throughout the product organization and delivering innovative products and solutions to clients. Prior to joining BNY, Jordan held various product leadership positions over eight years at BlackRock, most recently as Head of Private Markets Product Development and Strategic Growth. Her professional background also includes roles at PIMCO, along with early experience as an FX and derivatives trader. Jordan holds an MBA from the Wharton School and a B.S. from New York University.
Noel Kimmel
,
President
,
Ripple Prime
Noel Kimmel is President of Ripple Prime, a multi-asset prime brokerage, clearing, and financing platform. Prior to joining Ripple Prime, Noel was Global Head of Investor Services, Valuations, and Reporting at Cerberus Capital Management. Previously, he founded and led Cantor Fitzgerald’s prime brokerage, capital introduction and clearing businesses, and before that served as North American Head of Sales and Marketing for Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange, and Derivatives Prime Brokerage at JP Morgan. Noel joined JP Morgan through its acquisition of Bear, Stearns & Co., where he was a Senior Managing Director and co-headed the Fixed Income Prime Brokerage division. He is a member of CME Group’s FCM Advisory Board and a graduate of Colgate University.
Moderated by
Erik Johnson
,
Vice President, U.S. Government Affairs
,
MFA
Erik Johnson is Vice President of U.S. Government Affairs at MFA. In this role, he works with the government affairs team to execute MFA’s advocacy initiatives in Washington.
Before joining MFA, Johnson spent eight years at a government affairs and business consulting firm specializing in financial services policy. Johnson has advised and represented some of the world’s leading financial institutions on legislative and regulatory matters before the United States Congress, Treasury Department, U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, and other governmental entities. Johnson also spent almost a decade in government, working as an advisor on financial services policy in the House and Senate, and as the federal policy director for a governor.
Johnson earned his MBA from the University of Maryland and his BS in Business Management from The Ohio State University.
03:45pm - 04:20pm
Panel I Operational and compliance realities of SMAs: Treasury and finance implications
- How do SMAs reshape daily workflows in cash management, collateral, and margin compared with traditional commingled fund structures?
- What is the impact on capital efficiency—netting, financing terms, and balance sheet optimization across strategies?
- What additional demands do SMAs place on reporting, data aggregation, transparency, and performance/fee calculations?
- Understanding regulatory guidelines and compliance obligations unique to SMA structures
- The rise of GP stakes investing: Understanding benefits and challenges.
Speakers
Michael Berezecky
,
Director of Fund Operations
,
CenterBook Partners
Michael has over a decade of operations experience within the financial services sector. Prior to joining CenterBook Partners, Michael was a Vice President on the trade management team at AQR Capital Management, a global quantitative hedge fund, where he supported the trading desk and worked primarily within the middle office. Before joining AQR, Michael started his career at Interactive Brokers and worked within the security clearing and financial control departments. Michael graduated from the University of Connecticut with a B.S. in Economics and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
Ryan Castle
,
CEO and Founder
,
Conduit Security
Ryan Castle is the Founder and CEO of Conduit Security, where he leverages over 18 years of cybercrime and software development expertise to protect businesses from wire fraud and financial losses. Previously, he served as an FBI Special Agent specializing in computer intrusions and organized crime, led engineering teams at Palantir Technologies, and was Chief Operating Officer at TraceSecurity overseeing significant operations and growth. Ryan holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer science from Vanderbilt University and is recognized for his leadership across government, technology, and enterprise security.
Xavier Urli
,
Head of Investment
,
Innocap
As Head of Investment, Xavier Urli leads the Investment Solution & Portfolio Oversight Group at Innocap, where he oversees the development of customized investment solutions, advanced risk analytics, and institutional-grade oversight across managed account portfolios.
He previously served as CEO of Innocap Global Investment Management Ltd., where he supervised portfolio management, liquidity and hedging frameworks, and the firm’s regulatory and operational strategy. Earlier in his career, Xavier held portfolio management responsibilities at Desjardins Global Asset Management within the structured notes and fund-of-hedge-funds group.
With a master’s degree in physics from Université de Montréal, Xavier brings a strong quantitative foundation to the design of transparent, scalable, and innovative investment architectures. He regularly contributes to industry discussions on dedicated managed account platforms, risk transparency, and solution engineering.
Moderated by
Roark Stahler
,
Managing Director, US Head of Strategic Consulting
,
Barclays
Mr. Stahler is the US Head of Strategic Consulting at Barclays. Mr. Stahler joined Barclays in 2008 as a member of the Strategy team working on various projects across the Investment Bank. Prior to joining Barclays, he worked as a consultant for McKinsey & Company, advising Asset Managers and other financial institutions as well as several other client types.
Mr. Stahler holds an MBA as well as a BA from the Stern School of Business at New York University.
04:20pm - 04:55pm
Panel I Modern treasury systems and collateral workflows: What good looks like in 2026
- What does modernizing and scaling a treasury management system look like today—and what capabilities are essential?
-
What trends in technology and vendor solutions are shaping best-in-class treasury and collateral workflows, ensuring both efficiency and security?
- How should fund managers structure treasury and collateral teams as products and financing needs grow more complex?
- What operating models—centralized, hybrid, or specialized—enable teams to scale efficiently while maintaining strong controls?
Speakers
Vincent Gerosa
,
Managing Director
,
Kayenta
Vincent Gerosa is the Managing Director at Kayenta, where he has been dedicated to client coverage, onboarding and product development for the past two years. Before joining Kayenta, Vince spent 25+ years at Morgan Stanley Prime Brokerage, where he specialized in serving hedge fund clients and developing financing and operational solutions.
Vince holds a B.S. in Accounting from Fairfield University and is a self-described Prime Brokerage nerd.
Sebastian Gumbs
,
Deputy Chief Operating Officer
,
Boothbay Fund Management
Sebastian joined Boothbay in 2019 and serves as Deputy Chief Operating Officer. In his role, he collaborates closely with the firm’s Chief Operating Officer and other executives regarding the oversight of the firm’s non-investment related functions, with a focus on the planning and implementation of the firm’s strategic business initiatives. Throughout his tenure, he has worked in multiple areas of the firm, including manager sourcing, onboarding, and treasury. He graduated from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Finance.
Meha Jain
,
Global Treasurer
,
Apollo Global Management
Meha Jain joined Apollo Global Management as the Global Treasurer in 2024, responsible for the company’s policies and management of global capital and liquidity, capital markets, treasury operations and stakeholder management including rating agencies, fixed income investors and banking partners. Before Apollo, she served as Vice President and Deputy Treasurer at Prudential Financial. Prior to joining Prudential, she was the Head of Strategy for Deutsche Bank Americas region where she was instrumental in regulatory transformation working closely with the Board and C-suite. Meha also worked at Credit Suisse in investment banking division and Deloitte serving a range of financial institution clients. Meha currently serves as the Chair of the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees of Newark Museum of Art based in Newark, NJ.
She received an MBA from Columbia Business School, a master’s degree in accountancy and finance from Case Western Reserve University, and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University of Delhi. Meha lives in Summit, NJ with her husband and 6-year-old daughter.
Moderated by
Matt Kiraly
,
Global Head of Equity Finance and Prime Sales
,
HSBC Bank
04:55pm - 05:00pm
Closing remarks
Speaker
Ruta Gnedeviciute
,
Director, Content and Programming
,
MFA
Ruta Gnedeviciute is MFA’s Director of Content and Programming, based in New York. She develops content for the association’s major conferences and peer-to-peer forums, including programming, speaker acquisition, and content preparation.
Ruta is an accomplished event content editor and project manager with 13 years of experience in global news and media. Before joining MFA, she was a Content Portfolio Manager at the Financial Times, where she oversaw content creation and commercial success for a global event series covering sustainable and ethical business and investment practices. Prior to that, she was the Events Lead for the Americas at Risk.net (part of Infopro-Digital), a leading trade publication covering financial risk management, trading, investing, and regulation.
Ruta began her career as an event content producer in London. She holds a BA in International Business Finance and Economics from the University of Manchester and a certificate in Storytelling: Narrative Tools and Applications from the NYU School of Professional Studies.
