Project Management

RICHARD MARTINEZ

http://www.mycareerhighlights.com/richardmartinez

*** ***** ***** (H) 732–892–0586

Brick, NJ 08724 ************@*******.***

SENIOR OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE

Business Restructuring | Project Management ǀ Relationship Management

Accomplished finance professional with demonstrated expertise in organizational review, process improvement, change management and team building/managing. Exemplary problem solver with excellent communication skills across all levels of management and personnel. Background in all asset classes and product types, including mutual funds, hedge funds, alternative investments and variable annuities.

CAREER NARRATIVE

OLD MUTUAL (BERMUDA) LTD., New York, NY 2010 – 2011

Part of the global Old Mutual PLC group (50,000+ employees), the OMB Ltd entity represented US presence (30+ employees). A $5+ billion dollar business that distributed wealth accumulation insurance contracts to non–US investors in the Americas and EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa),.

Assistant Vice President, Global Operations & Service

Scope of responsibilities included day–to–day management of trading functions, relationship management for the Bermuda-based policy administration team, directing NY-based 4-person Dealer Service team, metric report development for service functions, including websites and service team, and management of information flow to senior management and downstream internal and external partners.

• Built and managed Dealer Service Team project from inception through go–live based on inefficient problem resolution. Enhanced industry perception by streamlining external communications to a single–source contact and reduced policy administrator fees by more than half–a–million dollars.

• Integral in replacing legacy system with implementation of a new trading platform. Reduced trade profit/loss totals from $500,000 to less than $3,000 and eliminated service issues.

• Pivotal in consolidation of external vendors delivering thousands of dollars in cost reduction as key contributor to external project policy change project.

• Identified and resolved operational deficiencies, including rewriting of all departmental procedures.

BLACKROCK, Plainsboro, NJ 2006 – 2010

One of the leading investment banks globally with $3.5 trillion in assets under management (AUM). Recognized as an industry leader in the asset management space.

Vice President, Offshore Mutual Fund Operations

Responsible for all operational aspects of the BlackRock Offshore fund range in the Americas distribution space. Introduction of the BlackRock offshore fund range to other US-based asset managers previously available to only one US distributor (Merrill Lynch). Enabled advisor access from all large US distribution channels, exponentially grew the distribution possibilities, and resulted in range being picked up by 20+ US distributors.

• Built and coordinated global project teams in support of major project initiatives.

• Credited with maximizing firm’s industry visibility and reputation. Orchestrated project, including comprehensive testing and project planning with the Euro-based Transfer Agent./NSCC to enable NSCC-trading capabilities to US-based distributors allowing distributors preferred -method trading ability.

• Managed 8-person Dealer Service team which handled domestic issues for US Broker/Dealers and offshore items for a $90 bb fund range. Reconfigured team agenda, rewrote procedures and built a more cohesive, efficient group that came to be seen as subject matter experts for internal business areas and external partners, across all reporting levels.

• Oversight responsibility for client onboarding, including KYC & AML documentation retrieval/approval.

• Coordinated 12b-1 fee set-up for offshore fund range with TA and ensured proper trail payment rates in accordance with distribution agreements and fund parameters.

BLACKROCK (continued)

• Directed project entailing critical changes across trading platforms worldwide to accommodate consolidation of ML business and BlackRock. Rebranded offshore fund range and completed required name and identifier changes for 100+ funds and more than 600 share classes. Consulted with senior management regarding risk factors.

• Directed relationship management of all US Broker / Dealers distributing the BlackRock offshore fund range from set–up of new products on distributor platforms, through problem resolution, and expediting trail payment to distributors.

• Coordinated build–out of enhanced trail payment service for US distributors through the NSCC CommServe function working collaboratively with Transfer Agent and the NSCC. Automated payment of $1+ million in quarterly service / trail payments previously transacted manually, and reduced cost and resource hours for BlackRock while simultaneously decreasing potential loss tied to incorrect handling.

• Organized project with the offshore fund range Transfer Agent developing trading functionality. Enabled BlackRock offshore fund range to be traded through the NSCC by US Broker / Dealers, expanding US distribution channel options and enabling range to expand from one primary distribution source to more than 20 distributors with AUM of $20+ billion and increased international exposure.

• Launched BlackRock Offshore Institutional Cash Series funds in the Americas space, a project entailing architecting NSCC functionality with offshore Transfer Agent (State Street Dublin) writing test protocols, testing of functionality, and management of all trading activity across the range. AUM grew from $0 to $4+ billion in first year.

MERRILL LYNCH, Plainsboro,, NJ 2005 – 2006

One of the leading investment banks globally, Merrill Lynch offers mutual funds, closed-end funds, managed accounts and alternative investments to individuals, institutions and financial professionals.

Assistant Vice President, Domestic/Offshore Mutual Fund Operations

Charged with assisting in all operations activities of the proprietary domestic and offshore fund ranges.

• Coordinated fund set–up and launch of new product offerings ensuring inclusion of new fund on all relevant trading platforms both internally and externally, as ell as correct 12b-1 rates applied across all trading platforms.

• Improved team cohesiveness resulting in improved efficiencies.

• Streamlined communications flow for external clients and internal Relationship Managers to mitigate potential and existing reputational risk.

• Partnered with internal ML business areas on various transition–related projects including, but not limited to, rebranding of ML domestic fund range, diverse proxies associated with the merger, and establishment of new policies and procedures for post–transition business.

AXA–EQUITABLE, Secaucus, NJ 1997 – 2005

One of the largest insurers in the world. French-based $48 billion company with presence in all global markets and leading provider of diverse insurance and investment products.

Manager

Held full accountability for directing and guiding timely completion of withdrawal and tax–free exchange requests for EQUI–VEST contracts, directing and ensuring optimum performance of 30–member disbursement team attained through training and compliance to quality standards.

• Revitalized division’s productivity and quality standards by creating new policies and procedures, and piloted a series of tracking reports. Reduced breakage costs by 15%

• Built and managed Case Resolution Team which handled all escalated issues and complaint items up to, and including, FINRA (NASD) arbitration cases.

• Reversed advisor error program through development of new error resolution procedures. Reduced Errors & Omissions claims costs by 25%.

• Wrote original Sarbanes-Oxley procedures for annuity center business areas.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT / LICENSES

Previously held: NASD/FINRA Licenses 6, 7, 24, 63

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