“In event-driven investing, experience matters. You have to understand the situation-specific details, the broader market environment, and what could ultimately delay or derail a transaction.”
I joined William O’Neil Securities because of its reputation and, just as importantly, the people I met. I wanted to be part of a team I respected and enjoyed being around. In helping build our Event Driven and Risk Arbitrage business, I bring nearly three decades of experience in merger arbitrage and event-driven investing, along with a perspective shaped by many different market cycles and both company-specific and macro economic events.
What has always interested me about merger arbitrage is that no situation exists in a vacuum. You have to understand the specifics of a transaction while also paying close attention to the broader environment in which a deal or special event is taking place. I am constantly thinking about what could change, what could delay a closing, and where the risks may be. That combination of detailed analysis and a wider market perspective is what continues to make the work compelling to me.
Most recently, I worked at Stifel after spending more than a decade at Oscar Gruss as Head of U.S. Equity Trading. Earlier in my career, I held senior buy-side trading and investment roles at Cerulean Capital Management, Thales Fund Management, and HSBC, where I worked across merger arbitrage, event-driven, multi-strategy, and special-situations portfolios. I began my career on the American Stock Exchange, first as an options clerk and later as an options specialist.
I earned a BA in Economics and Business from Lafayette College. My economics background helped develop my interest in both micro economic and macro economic events and ultimately pointed me toward merger arbitrage. I believe one of the biggest challenges in this business is maintaining the focus, energy, and passion required to do your best every day, and that is something I continue to bring to my work with clients.
Outside of work, I enjoy golf and spending time with my wife, Colleen, and our three children, who are all finishing college. We also have two rescue dogs that keep the family busy.