Interim CEO

Posted on: 2006-01-04

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Results-oriented, detailed professional with comprehensive operations and management experience. Background includes consistent promotions to positions of increased responsibility. Skilled in strategic business analysis, human resources management, training, writing user manuals, streamlining procedures, and working with technology to design and deliver system enhancements. Facilitated a 40 percent staff reduction and monthly savings at The Pacific Exchange via technology enhancements and streamlined procedures. Over 10 years successful experience in the financial securities industry including running the operations department of an options trading floor, managing the Exchange error account, writing business requirements, interfacing with customers, and interfacing with the SEC and NASD. Talent for making rapid assessments of diverse situational challenges and then developing and leading the resulting action plans. Key qualifications include: •Strategic & Operational Planning •Strategic Market Analysis •Pricing Strategies & Product Introduction •Business Process & Strategy Development •Forecasting, Budgeting & Cost Controls •Technology Project Management •Quality & Productivity Improvement •Regulatory Leadership & Interfacing with Government Agencies •Client Services Leadership •Human Resource Management & Leadership PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE HedgeFleX, Inc., San Francisco, CA 9/2005-Present President and Interim CEO Senior Operating Executive with full strategic planning, technology project management, and regulatory planning for this start up corporation launched to develop the first Options ECN. Maintain complete autonomous decision-making authority within the areas of human resources, technology, sales and marketing, and administrative affairs. Manage 8 direct reports within our local office as well as a consultant based out of Chicago and a team of 16 technology consultants in Chennai, India. HedgeFleX, Inc., San Francisco, CA 2004 - Present Chief Operating Officer Co-founded start-up company and set up the entire infrastructure, handling all key tasks from writing the business proposal, to handling incorporation, leasing of office space, and setting up key internal departments and procedures. •Directed strategic marketing, targeting potential clients and partners. •Negotiated a strategic alliance with a global technology consulting firm based out of India and deployed staff to Chennai, India in order to complete the development of our system at the lowest possible cost. •Established business development team and helped write specifications for trading system. •Worked with attorneys to incorporate HedgeFleX Inc. •Worked with attorneys to draft documents necessary to file with NASD and SEC for regulatory approval for the first Electronic Communications Network (“ECN”) for trading complex options derivatives. Filing was submitted in July 2005. Currently working on a follow up letter responding to specific NASD questions. •Set up internal infrastructure for all aspects of Finance and Accounting including: developing a budget and inputting in QuickBooks, setting up all accounts in QuickBooks, paying bills, reconciling account, producing monthly Balance Sheets and other accounting reports for the Board. •Secured office space and set up internal infrastructure for all aspects of Human Resources including: setting up payroll and benefits, drafting job descriptions, interviewing and hiring staff, writing policies and procedures. •Set up internal infrastructure for client services including: creating an Access Database to log customer inquiries, writing policies and procedures. •Organized quarterly Board Meetings including agendas, presentations, and Board Books. The Pacific Exchange, San Francisco, CA 2002–2004 Vice President Strategic Marketing Selected to take on a new role in the company and drive the business requirements and marketing plan for PCX Plus, the Pacific Exchange’s first, all-electronic trading system. •Gathered and defined business requirements for state-of-the-industry PCX Plus Trading Engine – the Pacific’s all-electronic next generation options trading system. PCX Plus links major trading desks in New York and Chicago with the San Francisco trading floor through a dedicated Wide Area Network. It provides accurate quotes, instant executions and a level playing field for both investors and professional traders. •Designed Marketing Strategy to maximize design features and implementation of PCX Plus in the highly competitive Options marketplace. •Helped Regulatory Policy team draft, edit, and negotiate new trading rules for PCX Plus with the SEC. •Helped test and implement the new trading system and Front End GUI. •Wrote training manuals, developed training program, and ensured all existing clients were trained prior to the launch of PCX Plus in October 2003. •Raised the PCX profile on Wall Street by redefining the Exchange’s service culture via the implementation of a 7-person Client Services team able to be a “one-stop shop” for all client needs from membership to connectivity to training. •In charge of dispute and complaint resolution between the Exchange and customers. •Helped design and launch a web-based dispatch system for use in opening problem tickets and logging and tracking problem resolution throughout the company; system was beta tested by Client Services Team. The Pacific Exchange, San Francisco, CA 1999-2002 Vice President Options Trading Services Promoted to Vice President and given full accountability for daily Trading Floor Operations in a period where Listed Equity Options Trading on the Pacific floor increased 200 percent. •Managed staff of 60 to 125. Planning and responsibility for $4 Million annual budget, with responsibility for hiring and promotions. •Defined technical business specifications for trading floor applications. Coordinated business requirements, SEC obligations and customer needs for new and legacy systems. •Directed Customer Service Desk, researching and resolving trading problems for customers and Member Firms. All 20,000+ daily transactions were required to settle by next day’s opening. •Wrote, developed, and implemented training programs for staff. •Directed floor staff in assisting regulatory department with oversight by reporting violations and unusual trading activity, and responding to SEC mandates. •Managed risk for Exchange error account. The Pacific Exchange, San Francisco, CA 1999-2002 Various Positions Took an entry-level position and was quickly promoted through the ranks learning various staff positions including clerk, Order Book Official (pit manager), and Staff Manager. I was promoted to Manager after only 14 months in the industry. During this period, listed Equity Options volume increased from an average of 75,000 to 200,000 contracts a day. Key accomplishments included organizing PCX University for training 125 staff (1998). EDUCATION Georgia Southern University, Statesboro GA B.S Journalism (Minor: Political Science). Some MBA coursework via University of Phoenix, on-line including Finance, Accounting, Statistics I. and II., Macro Economics, Micro Economics, Operations Management, Marketing, and Human Resources Management. PC SKILLS Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Publisher, Access, Power Point, Visio, Aldus PageMaker, Quark Express, QuickBooks Pro, Clear Quest, CVS, Subversion (SVN), Bugzilla