WORLD-CLASS MANAGERIAL SKILL IN A BOUTIQUE SETTING.

Over the years, First Quadrant's management team has evolved into a true working partnership. The individual and collective strengths of the team permeate the firm, with each of our nine managing partners holding personal responsibility for one critical aspect of the business. We're proud of the fact that First Quadrant has one of the most stable teams in the business.

 
 

MAX DARNELL
KEN FERGUSON
CURT KETTERER
DORI LEVANONI
CHRISTOPHER LUCK


TIM MECKEL
TODD MILLER
STEVEN RICHEY
RICK ROBERTS
JIA YE
 
 

MAX DARNELL has served as First Quadrant's Chief Investment Officer since 2002. Max is responsible for overseeing the firm's investment products, with emphasis on strategic research and development initiatives. Max, along  with Curt Ketterer, serves in the firm's Executive Office. Max began his career at First Quadrant in 1991, managing derivatives research throughout the decade. In 2000 he was named Director of Research, overseeing both equities and derivatives products. Max earned a Master's degree in Economics from  the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1991. Back to top


    KEN FERGUSON is one of two First Quadrant partners co-heading the firm’s global macro research function. He is involved in all aspects of product development: model building, risk measurement, risk allocation, and portfolio optimization. On joining First Quadrant in 1994, Ken was initially focused on tactical asset allocation, currency, and global macro strategies. His responsibilities expanded to include equity research in 2006. Prior to joining First Quadrant, Ken was an assistant professor of mathematics at the University of California, Irvine, and the University of Southern California. He received his PhD in mathematics from the University of Utah in 1991. Back to top


 
    CURT KETTERER joined First Quadrant as chief financial officer and treasurer in 1995, and became the firm's chief operating officer in 1998. He is First Quadrant's partner in charge of operations, finance, and administrative functions, and serves in the firm's Executive Office. Curt's 21+ years of financial and investment advisory experience include service as senior vice president of finance at Trust Company of the West and, prior to that, as chief financial officer of Security Pacific Investment Group. He also spent nine years with Arthur Andersen LLP, and is a certified public accountant. Curt earned an MBA in finance from Loyola University in Los Angeles, and holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting from California State University, Long Beach. Back to top


 
   

DORI LEVANONI is a First Quadrant partner co-heading the firm’s global macro research function. He is involved in all aspects of product development: model building, risk measurement, risk allocation, and portfolio optimization. On joining the investment research team, Dori was initially focused on tactical asset allocation, currency, and global macro strategies. Mr. Levanoni first joined First Quadrant in 1991 as an intern while studying physics at California Institute of Technology. He left the firm in 1995 to work in the anatomy and neurobiology department of Washington University in St. Louis. Returning to First Quadrant in 1996 as head of systems, Mr. Levanoni moved to the investment research team two years later. He subsequently served as manager of currency research and director of the currency product.
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    CHRISTOPHER LUCK is the first Quadrant partner heading the firm’s equity portfolio management function. Prior to joining First Quadrant in 1995, Chris spent eight years at BARRA, a provider of risk management solutions. He has published numerous articles in professional journals on topics including socially responsible investing, international diversification, style management, and tax efficient investing. Chris earned his Bachelor's degree in Economics, summa cum laude, from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. He received an MBA, emphasis in Finance, from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1988. Chris became a CFA charterholder in 1994 and currently instructs the CFA review course for the Los Angeles Society of Financial Analysts. Back to top


 
    TIM MECKEL, partner and director of client service, is responsible for keeping clients abreast of the firm's research innovations, special projects, and performance across all First Quadrant products. In addition he oversees monthly client reporting, client consultation on tailoring risk allocation within the product roster, and acts as liaison between clients and the Pasadena-based client service group. Prior to joining First Quadrant in 1988, Tim spent four years based in Frankfurt working on international finance and venture capital in the high technology sector. He earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School in 1988 and received his bachelor's degree with a double major in economics and German from Middlebury College in 1981. Tim became a CFA charterholder in 1992. Back to top


 
   

TODD MILLER is a partner involved in trading for First Quadrant’s derivatives trading program, options-based hedge strategies, and option overlay strategies. Prior to joining First Quadrant in 1995, Todd was with TSA Capital Management managing options-based strategies. He also worked for Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company, supervising the accounting administration of investment portfolios. He began his career with Young, Smith and Peacock as a specialist in equity-based options strategies. Todd received two degrees from California State University, Fullerton: a bachelor's degree in finance/accounting in 1984 and an MBA in 1992. He became a CFA charterholder in 1994. Back to top

 
    STEVEN RICHEY is a partner who oversees First Quadrant's derivatives trading program, options-based hedge strategies, and option overlay strategies. Prior to joining First Quadrant in 1999, Steve worked at Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company and was a research analyst with HCM Capital Management, a Honolulu-based fixed-income investment management firm. Steve received his bachelor’s degree in 1997 and his MBA in 1998, both from Hawaii Pacific University. He became CFA charterholder in 2000. Back to top


 
   

RICK ROBERTS is the First Quadrant partner who determines the firm's international marketing strategy. In this function, Rick manages a team of professionals that develops business with large institutional investors in the US and, through First Quadrant joint ventures, around the world. Rick brings to his position years of experience as an analyst, trader, and currency risk manager. Prior to joining First Quadrant in 1997, Rick was affiliated with Provident Capital Management, Akamai International, and money-center and investment banks in similar roles. He earned a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from the University of Arizona in 1982, and an MBA in finance from the University of Notre Dame in 1986. Back to top

 

 
  Ye  

JIA YE is First Quadrant’s chief investment strategist. She is focused on new strategy development, innovative research, product enhancements, and trading mechanisms. Prior to her current role, Jia oversaw    the firm’s global market neutral strategies and was involved in the construction of equity signals for both domestic and international markets, risk management, and product designs. She received a MS degree in applied mathematics in 1991 and a PhD in finance and business economics in 1995, both from the University of Southern California. She has published articles in various journals, including research on equity management and tax-efficient investing. Back to top