Russ Goyenko, Ph.D
President & CEO
Russ Goyenko is an Associate Professor of Finance at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management. He has previously held academic positions at the University of Toronto, Notre Dame University, and most recently, as a visiting scholar at the Yale School of Management. In addition to his academic career, Russ brings extensive industry experience, having served as a consultant for risk management groups, private asset management firms, and equity options market-making companies.
With over 20 years of quantitative research expertise in financial markets, Russ has authored numerous studies published in prestigious peer-reviewed finance journals. In the summer of 2020, he founded the AI in Finance Initiative: Financial Innovations and Risk Management Labs, a research hub aimed at bridging the gap between financial economics and computer science. The initiative focuses on developing fundamental and practical applications of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) in asset management and finance more broadly.
In October 2024, Russ, in collaboration with McGill University and FIAM, launched the world’s first Asset Management Hackathon, involving universities across Canada. This groundbreaking competition integrates the latest technology and big data into portfolio management practices, showcasing the transformative potential of AI in the field.
Vadim di Pietro, Ph.D
CCO and Advising Representative
Vadim di Pietro serves as Chief Investment Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, and registered Advising Representative for Desautels Capital Management, Canada’s first university-owned and student-run registered investment management firm.
Vadim joined McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management in 2009. Before that, he worked as an investment strategist at J.P. Morgan in London from 2007 to 2009, where he gained valuable experience in global financial markets.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (B.Eng.) from McGill University, a Master’s in Mathematical Finance from the University of Toronto, and a PhD in Finance from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Vadim is also a CFA charterholder, demonstrating his commitment to the highest standards of professional excellence in finance.
